Just minutes before the events from the previous chapter took place, Ayame sent a message to The Gang, for their celebration.

"Let's thrust ourselves to partying! In short, minus the rude behavior, we should celebrate together, all of us. I even brought along a friend, and he'll come by later. Anyway, hope you get the message. Be there at 5. Cocksuck~!"

Asahi said, "Hey, at least we can trust Ayame…"

Peter said to Steven, "Hey, Brooding Fist! We got an invite to return to Hane City!"

Steven said, as he was preparing, "Mission time?"

Peter smiled, "Naw, dude! It's time to PAAAAAAAAAAAR-TAY!"

The others were excited, but Steven huffed, "Great… And me without my best suit…"

Farra barked, "You're a stick in the mud!"

Steven barked, "Look! At least we don't have to be that apparent about Kajou! Besides, you remember what she did?"

Heather said, "Oh, right… the hentai…"

Mundy said, "Well, I say that a celebration is all we need, since we're going to take a break."

Asahi smiled, "And being that's in Hane City, I have no regrets! I've already gotten over Maki, but her spirit lives on in me."

Mizuki said, "Good for you. Anyways, should we go?"

Steven said, "We'll park across the street from Tundra Snow. We can all go."

Rook huffed, "Well, it better not be a peepshow for us…"

The Gang and Luzer departed to Hane City, only to befall the tragic events that took place.


Episode X – Ayame Kajou's Dead!
The Hunt for the Murderer in Hane City!


Hours later, in Hane City, Tanukichi was in his gray shirt and jeans, walking to the strip club, nearby. He said, "Kajou invited me to celebrate with The Gang… I say that's fun… But I don't know. I have hidden from them, for so long, that I am scared of what they'll do to me."

Ayame said, on the phone, "Tanukichi, they're harmless. They saved the world from perma-celibacy. The least you can do is say "Hi" to them. I'm not saying that they'll arrest you, but the DNC has disbanded, since. It's fine. I even called Gouriki to come by, but he's busy. Gouriki is in North City."

Tanukichi said, "Maybe so, but I'm scared, since we met in East Townsend. They're not how I pictured them! Look at their wanted posters in my part of town!"

He spread out a pile of WANTED posters from Cy-Bo-Div, in which Triple H slammed them, for their mission in Imperial Lobby, but for letting his wife, Stephanie McMahon, get killed by Broken Matt Hardy. Tanukichi explained, "Listen to this! Steven Cooke – A-Fist, Spader Ace; Bounty of $500 Million.
Farra Stevens – Fire Phoenix, Heart Ace; Bounty of $120 Million.
Peter Giese – Big Master of Darkness, Clubber Ace; Bounty of $77 Million.
Asahi Sakurai – Mech-Asahi, the Gynoid of Legends, Diamond Ace; Bounty of $5 Million.
Mizuki Takase – Cyborg Mizuki; Bounty of $16 Million.
Heather Dunn – Snow Storm Queen; Bounty of only $50 (picture shows only Snow Storm Queen).
Oscar Gooden – Sniper Mundy; Bounty of $30 Million."

Apparently, Rook was a no-show in Imperial Lobby, and that Heather was masked, all throughout the mission, to avoid conflict. Sadly, that failed.

"I can't be associated with criminals, Ayame!" Tanukichi barked, "The Gang may be AAW, but they're evil!"

"Says the guy that said that my Blue Snow gimmick is villainous. Chillax, okay? They'll explain why. Trust me."

Tanukichi moaned, as he walked towards the building, "Seriously… Why did she choose them to assist us? Well, hopefully they'll explain it, before I have them arrested by Cy-Bo-Div."

He sighed, as he walked to the back door, "I can't soil myself, yet. Ayame's waiting for me."

He stepped in, as the BattleVan drove to the front gate. Tanukichi stopped and gasped, looking at the door, as he thought, "The back door? Why is it open?"

He rushed in and slammed the door shut.

XXXXX

Minutes later, The Gang was disgusted, as they saw their WANTED posters in Hane City, across the street of Tundra Snow. Steven, Farra, & Rook were impressed, but the others, not so much.

Farra said, "Amazing… Scarlet wasn't kidding."

Asahi sobbed, "I… a legendary giant mecha kaiju… reduced to a criminal…"

Peter sighed, "I mean, come on…"

Luzer added, "That's Triple H's fault, for not protecting his wife from Matt Hardy."

Mizuki roared, "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS? WHY WOULD THEY MAKE ME A CROOK, AND A BAD WOMAN?"

Heather complained, "WHY'S MY BOUNTY ONLY FIFTY DOLLARS?!"

Mizuki and Heather were in deep wallow, as Mizuki sobbed, "My ladylike body is soiled by The Authority… I hate Triple H so much…"

Farra huffed, "Welcome to my world."

Heather wept, "Fifty dollars… Fifty… Fifty…"

Mundy barked, "Oh, it's not the end of the world! Besides, Heather wore her mask, all throughout the Imperial Lobby adventure. And no one squealed on you, knowing your true identity."

Heather huffed, "That's easy for you to say! YOU'RE A CRIMINAL, TOO!"

Mundy said, "Nah, Scarlet did say that the bounties were by Triple H, out of spite. But she said that it's for something else. She can't explain in full details, but we know what she means."

Farra asked Peter, "Hey, you're a bit calm. What? Luzer didn't make the pictures?"

Peter growled, as he was angry, "Why… is your bounty… higher than mine?"

Farra asked, "Oh, is that it? Maybe because I am a fully-experienced agent of AAW… while you're a phantom of the Mojis."

Peter was in anger, as he shook in complete defeat. Farra smirked, "And what happened to his bravado?"

Peter roared, "YEAH, WELL, AT LEAST STEVEN HAS A HIGHER BOUNTY THAN YOURS!"

Farra and Peter strangled each other, as they bickered.

"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, LURCH?"
"SHUT IT, DARK PHOENIX! GO BURN WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR ZEN!"
"OH, YEAH?"
"YEAH!"
"YOU THINK I CARE ABOUT THIS DOUCHEBAG'S PRICE?"
"AT LEAST YOUR HAIR IS THAT CHEAP AS FUCK!"
"OH, YOU'RE FUCKING DEAD, YOU FAT PRICK!"
"GO TO HELL, YOU BLONDE EMBER GURU!"

The others walked off, as Steven called out, "Come on, you two, or we're leaving you behind! We'll discuss our bounties, later!"

Mundy, Asahi, Heather, Mizuki, & Luzer huffed, "They never change…"

Rook was shocked, "Oh, my… They have a lot of energy."

Peter & Farra stopped, as Steven huffed, "Are you done?"

They said, "No…"

BONK! BONK!
Steven landed swift blows to them both, and shouted, "YOU KNOW WHO'S THE LEADER HERE! Now, get your asses over to the Tundra Snow, and STOP YOUR BITCHING!"

He marched off, as Peter and Farra moaned in pain, with a huge lump. Farra sobbed, "That asshole…"

Peter groaned, "She started it…"

Luzer said, in disgust, "You reap what you've sewn, Master."

XXXXX

They arrived at the back alley, as Mundy said, "Alright, we enter in the back way, since the front way is full of Kajou Clones, enough to flirt at us."

Peter said, "Good. I'd rather stay away from them."

Rook sighed, "Glad we're not that perverted."

Mizuki huffed, "Unlike you."

Heather sobbed, still upset, "Fifty… Fifty… Fifty…"

Luzer flew to the pole, as he said, "I'll stay outside, for safety."

Peter smiled, "Right, buddy. Be our eyes outside~!"

Steven reached for the door, and said, "Huh… It's open…"

Asahi asked, "Wait… Does Kajou usually lock the back door?"

Farra said, "Normally, because she invites free pervy guests."

Mizuki scanned it and said, "Uh, guys… I don't think Kajou meant for us to invite ourselves in, via the back way. The lock's destroyed."

The others gasped, as Heather sobbed, "Fifty…"

Rook cried, "A broken lock?! Someone gave us quite a shock! And we didn't even knock!"

Mundy asked, "Mizuki, how did it get destroyed?"

Mizuki said, "It's a sturdy lock, but… Somehow it was blasted open, via a gunshot."

Steven asked, "A gunshot? By who?"

Mizuki stated, as she looked on, "It's obvious… Whatever the case may be…"

Peter said, "We better go find Kajou and tell her…"

Farra barked, "HOLD IT! There's no way! Besides, even if the door is destroyed, it's a rundown place that Kajou built, only to miss out some other flaws."

Heather sniffled, "Fifty…"

Farra roared at Heather, "AND YOU'RE NOT HELPING!"

BANG!
They heard a gunshot, as Mundy cried, "What was that?"

Inside, Tanukichi cried, hearing the shot, "Is that-?"

He ran to the halls, and spotted a shadowy figure leaving Ayame's office. He cried out, "HEY! COME BACK!"

The figure dashed away, as he gasped, "No… No-no-no… It can't be…"

He stepped in and saw Ayame's body, lying dead.

"KAJOU!" He screamed.

Back outside, Steven asked, "You were saying about an old worn-out lock?"

Farra gasped, "That was-?"

Steven roared, "COME ON!"

They rushed through the door, as Luzer waited outside. They ran through the hall, only to go pass the shadowy figure. They heard a scream, as Tanukichi shrieked, "KAJOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU!"

Asahi sobbed, "NO! Don't tell me…"

Steven roared, "GANG! HURRY!"

They arrived at Ayame's office, only to arrive too late. Tanukichi was crying, as he was holding Ayame's dead bloody body. The Gang was shocked, as Steven and Farra cried, "KAJOU!"

Tanukichi gasped, as Steven, Mundy, and Rook stepped forward. Steven called out, "AAW! You're under arrest!"

Tanukichi raised his arms up and cried, "WAIT! I DIDN'T KILL HER!"

Mundy aimed his rifle at him and barked, "WHO ARE YOU?"

Rook prepared his cane sword, as he said, "Did you kill that darling girl, whose sailor talk makes you wanna hurl?"

Steven flexed a bit and said, "Okay, son… What did you do to her?"

Tanukichi sobbed, "Wait… I didn't mean to…"

Heather turned to him and sobbed, "Fifty… Fif-?"

She gasped, and shrieked, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! IT'S YOU!"

The others asked, "What?"

Heather barked, "So, it's you, isn't it? The boy we kept running into, every time we go on a mission!"

Farra cried, "Wait… HIM?!"

Asahi said, "Hey, yeah, she's right! That's…"

Peter said, "Tanukichi Okuma."

Tanukichi said, as the others were shocked, "Yes. That's right. I'm Ayame Kajou's boyfriend, Tanukichi Okuma. Well… Ex-boyfriend…"

Mizuki approached Ayame and felt her pulse. She seethed, as she was crying. Mizuki said, "Ex is indeed so. She's dead!"

Asahi wept, "Please, no…"

Rook moaned in sadness, "Kajou…"

Steven seethed, as he grabbed his tie, "YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

Tanukichi pleaded, "WAIT! NO! I DIDN'T DO IT! SOMEONE CAME IN AND KILLED HER!"

The Gang glared, as Tanukichi was being cornered.

Meanwhile, outside, the figure escaped through the back door, as Luzer witnessed the figure running away. Luzer decided to follow her, as he said, "She's up to something. OH!"

He recognized her and said, "This is bad. I have to tail her, and report back to Master! What is going on?"

He flew away, following the woman that killed Ayame.

Meanwhile, back in Tundra Snow, Tanukichi pleaded, "I'm innocent! I didn't hurt her! She and I are lovers, and I found her like this!"

Farra said, "What's your story, kid?"

Tanukichi said, as he calmed down, "I'm sorry… But I know Ayame Kajou, since I enrolled in Tokioka Academy. I'm a former member of the DNC, and long before…"

Mundy said, "Wait… You're in DNC, after all?"

Tanukichi explained his story:
"Long ago, the DNC was formed by Anna Nishikinomiya. We were assigned to erase lewdness and perversion in all of Japan. However, fate shines upon Anna, when she suddenly created a mission hunt in Mount Fuji, where the infamous Fuji Panty Shot is shown. If you look upside-down, it does look like panties, matching the snow as a crotch spot. Once I figured out that Anna may try to kill us, I walked out of the DNC, and left Kajou behind. She pleaded me to reconsider, but I chose the path of the right way: and that's to avoid being killed by my stalker of a former crush. What I didn't know was that I was right… And heard about the trap in Mount Fuji. Ayame never called me, since then, but she knew I was right about Anna's misbehavior. But Ayame and others fell for Anna's trap, nonetheless. I turned myself in, since the Decency Squad doesn't take kindly to abandoners. And I was sent to jail, for the rest of my life… only because I was Zenjiro Okuma's son. Anna gone from my life… Ayame abandoned… I had nowhere left to go…"

Okuma was in jail, as a man in a black preacher suit appeared. It was Father Clifton Nevins (Prior to his death), as he approached him, with gray hair, glasses, and a bushy mustache.

"Son, I understand that you want to pay decadence for your role…"

Okuma asked, "Father… Please… I abandoned everything that is decent… Please, make me amends for what I have done…"

However, one guard in white approached the pastor, as he asked, "You there, Decency Squad officer… What was his charge?"

The officer explained, "He abandoned everything decent. He does, father! Just like his perverted and disgraceful father! That's right! You will be locked away, forever, son of Zenjiro!"

Clifton replied, "Officer… Let the boy go. My consent is to his path. He chose to leave the Decency Nation Capital… and I decree."

"But, sir, he's a perverted and lewd boy, who defied Miss Nishikinomiya!"

"He's innocent. He chose to stray from his flock. The flock he belongs to is corrupt, in my view… and I chose to accept his plea. Let him go, at once!"

Tanukichi was freed, as he was amazed. Clifton approached him and concluded, "Providence has blessed to you. Choose your own path of righteousness, if you must."

"But why?" Okuma asked him.

Clifton replied, "Because… if my son and daughter were to be in this situation, I'm sure your father would've spared them, if he were in my place."

He smiled and then left.

Tanukichi said, "I knew this man was not going to help me, since I was Zenjiro's son… but he freed me, all the same."

Steven let go and said, "Okuma…"

Peter said, "He's innocent. Even I believe his story… to which is true. If anyone is to be pardoned by Steven & Michelle's father, we believe it."

Farra said, "And he would spare you, nonetheless."

Asahi whispered, "Kajou… She knew of what he's done…"

Tanukichi nodded and said, "Yes… I knew of the Anna situation, but I was right, all along. I would say "I told you so", but I won't, since… Ayame's gone…"

Rook approached her and said, "Ayame Kajou… We've lost so much on this day, including what we witnessed… Ayame Kajou speaks like a porn star… but her words and beliefs are that of an angel…"

Tanukichi sobbed, as he clutched Ayame's right hand to his side, and was crying. Heather sniffled, "He's no pervert… HE'S A SAINT! No matter what my father-in-law says, his words are deep! Zenjiro Okuma was evil, wanting to rid the world of the Nishikinomiyas, only to have fate befall the man that raised such a brave freedom fighter! All that leadership and heart from Zenjiro… He passed it over to Tanukichi! Sure, he was against the Nishikinomiyas, but valor and heart was all he had left! Okuma is good within him!"

She started to cry, as she looked up, "All men and women, corrupt with power, make me sick. All they do is make empty promises. But not SOX. They are perverts that want to make the worlds, as it is, and are made saints among men!"

Farra huffed in disgust, "Uh… Had the panty mask made you high?"

Steven said, "Tanukichi… Do you know who it was that killed Ayame?"

Tanukichi said, as he turned to them, "No… But I saw the person run away, after escaping through the office."

Mundy gasped, "Then… He is innocent! That woman that he saw was Kajou's killer!"

Asahi wept, "And we let her get away!"

Okuma replied, "Ayame… She's gone forever… I'm sorry… I should've protected you… I was scared."

Mizuki said, "It's alright, Tanukichi. Ayame was looking out for you… even if you don't accept her… But knowing Ayame Kajou, she wants you to come back… like she wants to diddle your penis off…"

She held up the pink flip phone and said, "Sorry. It's all she had left… Please…"

She closed the phone and said, "Honor Ayame's memories. As long as it takes you five hours a day. I have upgraded it for you to speak what you want, more than just three minutes. That was when we first met Kajou, here in this city."

He said, as he held it, "It'll remind me of her…"

Mizuki shuts Ayame's eyes and sniffled, "Rest in peace, Ayame Kajou… We will avenge your death."

She blubbered, as Peter held her tight. A few of them were sniffling, except for Steven and Farra. Farra huffed, "Uh, I hate to ruin this Crying Circle, but aren't we forgetting something?"

Mundy said, "That's right. We have to find the murderer. She escaped the Tundra Snow, right?"

Steven said, "Then, we have not a minute to lose…"

He cried out, "GANG!"
They shouted together, "LET'S GO!"

They ran off, as Tanukichi said, the minute they departed, "Ayame… I'm so sorry. This is a disaster. I should've never left you."

He started to cry, as he still remembers Ayame.


The Gang arrived outside, as Mundy growled, "Blast! We talked so long that the killer ran off!"

Steven said, "I knew we should've arrested him."

Farra asked, "What now?"

Peter asked, "Where's Luzer?"

Luzer suddenly flew in, as he called, "GUYS! Bad news! I saw a woman escape the strip club, and I tailed after her!"

The Gang gasped, "WHAT?!"

Luzer barked, "I said, I saw the woman escape the strip club-."

"Yeah, I know!" Steven barked, "We saw what transpired…"

Luzer asked, "What was the gunshot?"

Mundy said, "Ayame Kajou… She's gunned down… but by the woman that ran off."

Luzer cried, "No way! Who did it?"

Rook said, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but… did you see the woman escape?"

Luzer said, "Yes. You mean… She did it?"

Asahi cried, "YES, LUZER! She ran off, and you didn't chase her?"

Luzer shouted, "YOU TOLD ME ABOUT THIS, JUST NOW! HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW? I JUST CAME BACK FOLLOWING HER!"

They gasped, as Farra cried, "They… You… You actually followed her?!"

Luzer nodded, as Farra shouted, "YOU BIRDBRAIN! IF YOU WOULD'VE TOLD US SOONER, WE WOULDN'T BE TAKING TOO LONG TO FIGURE IT OUT!"

Luzer yelled, "WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO, TAKE A SHIT IN ONE OF THOSE AYAME HOOKERS' G-STRING? I HELPED YOU OUT, YOU JERKS!"

"Oh, leave the bird alone!" Mundy said.

Peter replied, "Luzer was helping! You didn't have to yell at him!"

Heather complained, "But still, if he didn't know who it was, we would be taking weeks on searching Kajou's murderer!"

Rook smiled, "And that saved us time and money."

Luzer said, "Uh, do you want me to show you, or not?"

Steven said, "By all means, we should. Let's make sure Kajou's death wasn't in vain!"

Peter called out, "Hold on!"

He said to Luzer, "Did you get a good look at her?"

Luzer said, "Yes, Master."

"Then TRANSFORM!" He boomed.

They all gasped, as Farra held his shoulder and said, "Uh, Big Guy… May I ask you something?"

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?" She yelled.

Luzer nodded, "Yes, master."

Farra gulped, "URK!"

Rook said, "Of course! Luzer can shapeshift into anyone he remembers, but only for three hours!"

Peter said, "A little trick that my countess gave him, while we were at Yatsuga Forest."

Mizuki said, "Luzer, can you?"

Luzer smiled, "Of course. But just so you know… You're not gonna like who she is…"

Heather said, "Malory Archer?"

Luzer flew up and said, "Even worse."

He called out, spreading his wings, "DARKVEIL POWERS, CHANGE ME! Turn me into someone I see! Turn me into…"

FLASH!
A flash of bright light consumed him, as he suddenly changed into the person that killed Ayame. The others were in complete shock, as they recognized her face.

All Steven could say, seeing her face…
"It… It can't be…"


Who killed Ayame Kajou?
Find out in the next chapter…


To be continued…