4) The Murderer in the Woods

Part 4

The next morning in the hall of the English department, Negi escorted the twins, Kaede, and Fei Ku to Matt's Mystery Club. Along the way, Negi and the girls were discussing.

"So, what's Matt's club like?" Fei Ku asked.

"Well, it's a bit crowded," Negi explained, "but it is a really interesting club to learn and discover all kinds of mysteries and adventures that are held throughout the world."

"Like what kind of mysteries and adventures-degozaru?" Kaede asked.

"Well, like solving that kidnapping incident that Matt did, and he said about going on a treasure hunt and exploring undiscovered areas like another world," Negi explained to his students.

"Wow, sounds like fun," Fuka said gleefully.

"Yeah, maybe we should join the club," Fumika said. "If we feel like it."

Negi and his students arrived at the front doors of the club. Negi knocked on the door, and Matt told him to come in. Negi opens the doors, and there he sees Matt and the girls getting ready to pack up for the next search in Kuyoku Forest. Matt sees Negi and the girls coming inside and close to Matt.

"Hey Negi, hey girls." Matt greeted them. "We were waiting for you Negi to show-up, so we can leave and head back into Kuyoku Forest."

"Right, I see," Negi said. "But before we go, these girls here want to ask you something." Negi shows the twins with their firm looks on their faces.

"Yes girls? What can I do for you?"

"Um, well, uh…" Fuka tries to tell Matt the truth, but she was a bit nervous. "Well, is it…"

"I-Is okay that we help you hunt down that killer, Oda-san?" Fumika quickly asked.

Matt blinked and jumped, and so did the members of the club. Matt was a bit scared to see two young girls trying to take on this dangerous challenge, and he wasn't sure if he can accept Fuka and Fukima.

"Kaede and Fei Ku will help out too," Fuka stated.

"Yeah, they will cover us and yours," Fumika followed.

Matt observes Kaede and Fei Ku that they were coming in and were both confident. Matt doesn't have any problems with the two tough fighters, but the twins are a problem.

"I don't know twins," Matt said in a worried mood. "It's just that, one false move from you girls, and you might get hurt. I'm concerned about that."

"We will be careful," Fuka noted.

"Yeah, we will always watch our noon and six," Fumika followed.

Matt was still unsure about the twins to come along with the dangerous case. "Pleaasssseeeee." The twins said in sync with their eyes widen like a dog's sad eyes. Matt still had a worried look. He then looks at Negi, Kaede, Fei Ku, and the members of the club. They all had a facial expression to trust the twins.

Matt took a big sigh. "Alright, you can tag along," he answered to them. The twins smiled. "But you have to stay close to us. Otherwise, it's your life."

Twins looked at each other and nodded. "Thank you, Oda-san." The twins said in unison.

"You sure about them, Matt?" Chisame questioned in concern.

"I trust them, and they trust me. I promise to watch out for them even if it means risking my own life for them."

"Matt," Eva calls to him, "you're a young man of your honor words."


One hour later, everyone made it deep inside of Kuyoku Forest again and searched high and low for the killer. They watched their backs as looked around behind the tall, thick trees and inside the thick bushes of the forest.

"Any clues, everyone?" Matt calls out to his team with Mana and Chisame at his side.

"Nothing here." Asuna called out with Negi, Konoka, and Setsuna at her side.

"Got nothing here," Satsuki called with Chao and Satomi with her.

"No luck," Yue shouted with Haruna and Nodoka at her side.

"Nothing around here either," Eva called with her loyal robot Chachamaru at her side.

"And there's nothing around here too." Fei Ku called with the twins and Kaede next to her.

It seems everyone is at a dead end and feeling like they have been going around in circles. Tch! Tch! Tch! Then with a jolt, they heard something in the bushes nearby. Mana wasn't afraid and got out one of her hand-guns. She aimed at the bush that was moving and walked slowly towards it. Everyone else backed up quietly hoping the murderer won't surprise and ambush them. The bush begins to shake even more and Mana still aims her gun towards it. Everyone was a little bit scared of the suspense terror.

Suddenly, something popped out of the bush…,

and it was only a furry squirrel.

Everyone was relieved and a little embarrassed that a little critter was making such a dramatic scene.

"I guess we were too scared of this murderer that our minds are playing tricks on us," Matt says to everyone.

"You damn right, Matt," Chamo noted as he was on Negi's shoulder.

"Well, I'm glad it's just a squirrel." Asuna said with a falsified grin. "What else can scare us?"

Boom!

Suddenly everyone heard the sound. It sounded like a shotgun had fired.

Matt turns to Mana. "Mana, was that you?" Matt asked.

"That's not me," Mana responded.

Boom! Another gunshot fired. Everyone started to shiver a bit. "If it's not Mana who's doing the shooting," Nodoka said fearfully, "then who–"

BOOM! A louder gunshot was fired. Then something zoomed and passed quickly right in front of Matt's face. Matt chilled and slowly looks to what it was that passed Matt. He sees on the tree's trunk that smoke is coming out of the holes. And inside the holes look like pellets, shotgun pellets. Matt knew those pellets and begins to shake.

Matt then makes an announcement to his team, "Gang, we better get out of here before we get–" BOOM! Everyone ducked their heads and looked to where the sound was coming from. "SHOT!" Matt yelled as he finishes his statement. BOOM! "RRUUUUNNN!" Everyone did and scurried out of the forest as fast as they can. However, the gunshots were tailgating the group, and gun pellets were zooming through to the group.

Everyone ran with all their might, hoping they make a clear escape from the killer. The gunshots are still fired as everyone covered and duck their heads. Mana, however, got her gun and starts to shoot in the direction of where the gunshots were coming from.

The chase was on until Matt got a glimpse up ahead of them. "I see the light!" He shouted. "We almost to the exit. Just a little longer."

Everyone panted as the whole group went down to their last breath feeling they aren't going to make it. Mana still looks back and aims her gun to shoot the culprit who's shooting the shotgun pellets. But just as she was about to pull the trigger on her gun, a tree's branch sticking out hit Mana in the head, and then it whacked off Mana's gun from her hand. The gun flicked off and landed in the grass.

"My gun!" Mana yelled.

"Forget it, Mana!" Matt yelled. "We have to get out of here!"

It was down to the last few feet of the exit, and the shotgun pellets were zooming and passing the team. When they got close to the exit, Matt ordered the group to make a long leap into the opening.

Within the last few inches, everyone did exactly what Matt said and plunge into the outside area. They made it out and everyone landed on the ground. Everyone breathed heavily and got up on their feet. Matt looks back inside the forest noticing that the shotgun shells aren't coming at the team anymore.

"I think we're clearly safe, everyone," Matt said while catching a big breather.

Everyone was relieved as some of the girls feel their heart pounding hard like a hammer pounding a nail.

"I thought for sure we were goners," Satomi said, taking a deep breath.

"Y'know, we could've used our magic to stop those bullets that killer was trying to kill us," Konoka noted to everyone.

"Hell yeah," Chisame noticed, "I forgotten about that. I guess we were so scared that our abilities to use our magic slipped from our minds."

"Even so," Matt replies to Konoka and Chisame, "you can't do that."

"Why not, Matt?" Negi questioned.

"If that killer saw your magic, who knows what he's going to tell everyone about your revealed secret to the public. It just might make things worse on you guys."

"Oh yeah," Haruna realized. "You got a point there, Matt."

"That's a smart thought there, Oda-san." said a voice not far from the group. They turned to see who it was, and it was Takamichi Takahata, one of the professors and Negi's magical friends.

"Oh Takamichi," Negi said in a small surprise. "What brings you here?"

"Well, Mystery Club people, I have some news to tell you."


Later in the afternoon at the dean's office, Negi, Chamo, Matt, the Mystery Club members, and volunteered girls are gathered as Dean Konoe makes an announcement to the mystery club.

"Matt and Mana," the dean said, "I want to thank you for finding those victims and reporting them to the police. The medical team at the victims' hospitals did the autopsy reports including a medical examination on the girl who miraculously survived."

"So, what did Professor Takahata want us to see you for?" Matt asked.

"I have the information reports on the victims, and I thought you might to read it. There's something in them that strikes you, Matt."

The dean took the reports out from his briefcase and gives them to Matt. Matt takes the reports and reads them thoroughly.

"What does it say Matt-san?" Konoka asked.

Matt held his index finger up telling her to hold on one sec. After careful reading, Matt twitched and gasped a little. The girls and Negi saw Matt jolted feeling that he notices something.

"This is very intriguing, Dean Konoe," Matt said.

"I thought that might strike you," The dean replied.

"What is it?" Haruna asked.

"Listen to this everyone," Matt announced to Negi and the girls. "According to the autopsy reports and the medical examination of the girl we saved, they stated that the victims weren't killed by a weapon. The medical team analyzed that there were no metallic chemicals or lead inside the bodies or within their DNA." This surprised the girls and Negi, even Chamo that made him twitched.

"Wait," Yue interrupted, "but if this is true, does mean that man we saw the other day…"

"If you're thinking right Yue, then yes," Matt responded to her in a firm look. "He couldn't kill those people." Mana was a little impressed by Matt's intelligence, and so did Kaede, Fei, and the twins.

"But what explains the gun firing this morning?" Eva asked.

"That I'm not sure. But I couldn't think he was trying to shoot us, using by these reports we learned."

"But if he didn't kill those poor people," Nodoka speaks, "Then who did?"

"Not who Nodoka," Matt corrected and gives everyone that confirmed look again like he knows something. "What killed them?"

Everyone paused a moment, thinking Matt is onto something. "What do you mean?" Chao asked.

"Listen carefully." Matt starts to read the reports again to his members. "What the medical team did uncover from the bodies is some sort of disease within the scratch marks and their DNA. They found traces of saliva carrying infection inside of it."

"Infection…?" Satomi wondered, "But that means our killer is really…"

"No doubt, miss scientist," Matt points out to everyone. "The killer… is an animal."

Everyone was surprised and made a quick flinch. Negi and the girls would never expect a wild animal living in a forest and close to the academy. One questioned gave every girl, including Negi and Chamo, the thought, "why would a wild animal live so close to the academy?"

"I been training and visiting in the mountains and saw a lot of wildlife creatures," Kaede spoke up. "But I never thought one would come close to the academy."

"No, Kaede, something's not right," said Matt trying to prove her wrong. "Any typical wild animal shouldn't be so close to the opening area of the school grounds, not at least within a few miles of the academy. It makes them stand out and draw harmful attention. Judging by the location of where Kuyoku Forest is, no mountain passes are connecting to it. Something is really odd, and I'll bet that man we saw is in trouble."

"What makes you say that, Matt?" Chamo questioned.

"I betcha that man was actually protecting us and trying to kill that murderous creature. He was actually shooting the killer we were looking for this morning. He might be in danger if he's not careful of what kind of creature he's up against." Everyone kind of agreed on Matt's point of view. "I think we owe him a favor for saving our hides. And that favor is helping him." Negi, Chamo, and the girls all nodded of Matt's theoretical statement. "Come on there's no time to lose. We must help him." Matt rushes to the front doors and out of the dean's room. Everyone else followed him, and Dean Konoe stayed behind in his chair.

When they were gone, the dean smoothes his beard and grins. "That Matt Oda-san sure is something."


The team reached back into Kuyoku Forest again in hopes of finding the man again. They searched high and low for the man. After a long search, the twins spotted the man in a great surprise. The twins called the others to come forth to the scene. When the rest of the team arrived, the twins pointed to the man lying down on the ground with his face towards the grass. Everyone rushed and checked the man. When they got close, the man's right hand carried a shotgun, and his pants on the right leg were ripped. On his leg had severe cuts and blood all over on it.

"He looks so bad," Haruna stated.

"No doubt," Eva responded.

Just then, the man twitched his head making everyone stepped back a little. He turns to the voices he heard and looks up to see who it was. "(GROAN)… You kids again…?" he slowly speaks. "What are you… doing here? I told you… to get out."

"Don't worry," Matt replies to the man. "We're here to help you. We know what's going on." Matt gave the man a firm look. "Please let us help you to stop that killer." The man saw Matt's face with a firm look knowing he's honest and is eager to help him. After a few seconds, the man gave Matt a worried but sympathy look.

"Uuuuhhh… Please help me…" the old man calls to everyone while he was breathing heavily. "Pick me up… I can hardly move." Matt, along with Chachamaru, Chao, and Haruna, picked up the man, and Mana grabbed his shotgun since she knows how to handle guns. "Carry me that way… please." the man pointed in the direction of where the team needs to carry him. They couldn't figure out why, but they followed the man's order and quickly carried him in the direction the man guided them.


After about a few minutes of walking, the team came upon an interesting surprise. In front of them is a small wooden cabin that's one story high and about a perimeter of 24 yards. The man orders the team to put him inside, and they did exactly what he said. Chisame opened the front door and everyone went inside.

As they got in, everywhere on the walls, they saw all kinds of hunting equipment: nets, bear traps, skinning knives, carrying sleds, and fish hooks. On one side of the cabin contain an oven, sink, stove, and a refrigerator like a small kitchen. On the other side of the cabin contains a bed, a small drawer, and a small bathroom.

After examining the whole room, Matt, Chachamaru, Chao, and Haruna put the man down on top of the bed and bedsheets. Satsuki got some towels to put them underneath the scratched leg. The man was breathing harder than before. Matt noticed it and took his hand and feels the man's head. After Matt flinched of what was wrong with the man, Matt quickly acted.

"Quick! Get a cold towel or ice bag!" He commanded to his members, Negi, and volunteers. "This man has a terrible fever."

Satsuki reacted and grabbed a small clean washcloth from on top of the sink and soaked it with cold water. Once the towel is fully wet, Satsuki brought it to the man and placed it on top of his head to cool down the fever.

While everyone waited for the man to recover from his fever, some of the girls looked around the cabin. Kaede observes all the hunting equipment on walls, Satomi looks around in the small kitchen, and Yue examined the small bathroom that only contained a shower and toilet. The twins were examining a few pictures that were on top of the drawer until one of them got their attention.

"Oh, this guy is cute," said Fuka.

"Yeah, he sure is," said Fumika.

The twins got Matt's attention. "What is?" Matt asks the twins.

"This cute pet," Fumika pointed out.

Matt got closer to the picture that the twins showed. The picture shows in an open field with the man holding his shotgun upright and a Kishu Inu standing on his side. Seeing this, Matt never expected that the man had a dog with him, but he pondered about this picture. He grabs the picture, looks at it again thoroughly, and rubs his chin.

"This is strange," Matt wondered.

"What is?" Fuka asked.

"Well, it looks our man here has this dog as a pet. These Kishu Inus are very loyal to their masters from what I heard, and they want to stay close by their side. But how come we haven't seen the man's pet?"

Then they heard the man struggling in grief and pain as he tries to speak. "I have to stop him…" the old man weakly speaks. "I got to stop him." The man slowly opened his eyes towards Matt while he is breathing heavily. "He was my good pal…, but now… I have to stop him."

"Stop who?" Matt asked. "You mean this dog?" The man nodded while he was in pain. Matt looked confused and didn't understand. "But… why you need to stop your…"

Just then, Matt paused and looks back at the man in sadness. Matt was in a state of figuring out something in his mind. After a few seconds of silence thinking, his eyes widen and his jaw opened. "Of course…" Matt responded in a great yet calm surprise. He quickly put the picture down and makes an announcement to his team. "Listen up! I know what we must do." The team heard Matt. "Thank you for everything mister, and I know how to catch this 'murderer' you seek." Negi and the girls were confused about what Matt was saying. "Satsuki, Chisame, Satomi, Konoka, Nodoka, and Narutaki twins, you stay here and help this man. The rest of you and Negi come with me into the forest." Matt opens the door to the cabin and looks back at his team. "We've got ourselves a killer to catch." He said with a firm look and grin.

"Wait, Matt!" Fuka called to him, "Please can we come with you."

"We promise we won't be in your way, and we'll do our best to help." Fumika followed.

"We don't want to sit here and do nothing."

Matt wasn't sure again, but the twins gave that dog-eyed look again and said, "Pleeaaase." Matt wasn't sure once again, but he couldn't help it. So he agreed, and the twins tagged along. Everyone else, expect the girls who stayed behind, rushed out the door, and followed Matt into the forest again.

Konoka and Nodoka looked out and see them running into the woods. "Be careful!" Konoka shouted to them.


The team rushed through every bush and tree branch that was in their way and came across a small opening. Everyone stopped as Matt makes a word, "This is good here. We should expect the murderer to come by here soon."

"You seem to know who this 'murderer' or 'killer' is," Chao said.

"Of course, since I know why that man was also trying to go after the killer as well."

"Really, Matt? How do you know?" Mana asked.

"Because he knows this killer like the back of his hand, and he's been after it ever since he lost his friend."

"Friend? What, friend?" Haruna questioned.

Suddenly, they heard a noise coming from the nearby bushes. It got louder and louder knowing something's coming up closer to the group. Then the gang heard something else.

GRRRRR!

It was a growling sound and an aggressive one. The team turns toward where the sound was coming from. Setsuna, Mana, and Kaede got their weapon gear. Then something popped out from the bushes. What stick out first is a white furry paw and its hair was oily and sticking up. Matt saw the paw, and he knew he was right all along who the killer was. When the killer revealed in light of the bushes, the team turned terrified when the murderer…

…Is a white Kishu Inu, but its eyes were bloody red, its fur was so oily and dirty, and had foaming saliva from its aggressive mouth. It growls even more as it stares at the team.

"Hey… isn't that the same Kishu Inu from the guy's picture?" Fuka asked.

"Yeah, what's it doing here?" Fumika followed.

Matt made a horrified and scared face after seeing the dog. "I knew it," he said shockingly.

"What Matt?" Kaede asked.

"That's why that man wanted to stop this dog. Our killer all along is this white mutt. The reason? That dog has…" Matt paused and gulped while the Negi and girls waited for Matt's answer.

"Rabies"