A/N: IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ: Many thanks to all of you who have been following my Toji No Miko murder mystery series. As I have finished working out the plotline for the upcoming fifth fanfic, I am currently working on the plotline for the sixth. And I want to now ask all of you for your personal opinion!

I will be putting up a poll on my profile page. And I want you all to choose the POV of the sixth fanfic. There are two options:

1) Third-person-POV as I've done for all my other fanfics

2) First-person-POV from Hiyori's POV

I will keep the poll up for two weeks until October 19th. I will add, however, that writing the plot will be easier and more flexible for me in first-person-POV—but the choice is up to you guys! Please vote on your preferred choice! :D

Chapter 11: Truths Uncovered

The food that the nurse brought for Maina was left untouched. The theatre performer's stomach seemed to have shrunk to the size of a pea. Despite Taiyo's coaxing for her to at least drink a bit of the miso soup or have a few helpings of rice, the woman refused obstinately to consume anything. Taiyo bit his lip with worry, regarding Maina as a special but troublesome charge.

"You need nourishment, Maina," the stage manager insisted. "It's not healthy to starve yourself like this."

"I won't eat anything!" was the irate response. "Not now...I can't. I can't possibly..."

Taiyo was just about to try a more forceful approach when Sergeant Tanaka and Hiyori came in. Judging by the looks on their faces, they were not here to check up on Maina's well-being like last time. With narrowed eyes of her own, Maina fell back on her pillows, blowing a strand of black hair from her face.

"You two again?" the theatre performer grumbled. "If you have more questions, I am not in the mood right now."

"Unfortunately, Maina-san, whether you are in the mood or not, is no excuse for refusing to tell the truth," Sergeant Tanaka said, sternly.

"What do you mean?"

"Why did you and Kawamura-san both lie about the arson?"

Taiyo made a sudden movement, but the sergeant ignored it. His eyes were steadily fixed on Maina, whose face was starting to become as white as salt. In desperation, she clutched the sleeve of Taiyo, staring at him with a pleading look. It was as though she was silently begging for him to save her from this uncomfortable situation.

"You have told us that you were attacked by a five-foot man with orange hair," Hiyori addressed Maina, before turning to Taiyo. "And you said that you were at home around the time of the attack. However, Sergeant Tanaka and I have proven that your accounts were both false!"

From a folder he had with him, Sergeant Tanaka took out a printed screenshot from the CCTV footage Officer Kimura showed them. Nobody, even Maina and Taiyo, could deny what was before them—a clear image of Taiyo running from the scene of the crime.

"So, you see," Hiyori continued, "we know more than you think. So, why did you lie?"

His face suffused with rage, Taiyo burst out, "This isn't a wild accusation. I must protest—!"

"For God's sake, it's right there, man!" Sergeant Tanaka said, slamming the piece of paper onto Maina's hospital bed tray. "Why did you both lie?"

"I can't—I can't—" Maina vented, before bursting into tears.

The emotional sounds she made were so pitiful that'd they break anyone's heart. She was truly the born actress whose deep lamentable voice thrilled many a theatre audience. However, Hiyori had a hardened heart for most of her life, until Kanami came into it. She was not the least moved by what she viewed as good play-acting on Maina's part.

"If you both refuse to answer, I can do that for you," the Head of the Origami Family said.

Receiving no answer, Hiyori faced the still-weeping woman. "You mentioned when we first questioned you that your husband wrote a new will. You would receive nothing from him—however, the mansion belonged to you still, as your parents were the previous owners. You probably wished to cash out the insurance of the house, didn't you? All so you could leave this country and start a new life with your lover and accomplice...Kawamura Taiyo."

"Now, look here—!" Taiyo roared, advancing towards the younger girl.

He stopped midway when Sergeant Tanaka stepped in front of him. In a soft warning-like tone, the sergeant said, "I'd be careful if I were you, sir. We both know threatening the Head of the Origami Family won't end well for you."

The stage manager sulkily sat down, after a pointed look from the sergeant. However, the two conspirators soon learned that Hiyori wasn't done yet.

"You were also spotted coming out from the Kamakura Maternity Clinic, Nishiyama Maina," said the Origami Head.

"Y-You saw me?" Maina gasped, looking more bloodless than ever.

Once again from his folder, Sergeant Tanaka withdrew another printed image and placed it next to the other one. Taiyo now looked astonished and shot a look at Maina in bewilderment.

"M-Maina, a-are you...pregnant?"

Not raising her head, the theatre performer sniffed before nodding in confirmation. "And it's yours."

At that moment, Taiyo felt so much joy he was sure it would burst out of his chest. But he couldn't help feeling distressed as well. Why didn't the woman he loved tell him about this before? Did she not trust him? And what about their child? Could she possibly have been planning to...?

Growing ever more fearful about how Maina felt about this, Taiyo asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was afraid," was the miserable response. "I'm an actress, Taiyo! I can't afford to look fat..."

The fact that Maina was more worried about her looks than the growing infant she was carrying inside her made Hiyori give her usual scowl. She could sense no maternal instincts in the theatre performer. Maina clearly never wanted a baby at all. For a second, Hiyori was frightened once it struck her what that could possibly mean. However, her initial belief was proven to be wrong to her utter surprise, along with the others, at Maina's next words.

"But I realized...I want to keep the baby," the green-eyed woman said.

She clutched Taiyo's hands in her own and held them to her chest. "I could never kill your baby, darling."

With tears of his own, the stage manager replied, "We'll raise our child together, Maina. I promise."

He then turned to Sergeant Tanaka and Hiyori with a calmer character. "It is true that Maina and I planned the staged arson for the house insurance. However, that is all we were involved in. We are in no way involved with Nishiyama Keishi's murder."

"Surely you believe us, Hiyori-sama?" Maina implored. "I know that Taiyo and I appear to have the brilliant minds of scheming murderers, but we aren't! I assure you that we aren't! You must understand that we were desperate, Hiyori-sama."

Hiyori's face was closed off. Nobody in the room could guess what she was thinking. Her silence increased the apprehension of the theatre performer and stage manager, as they waited for her response.

With a sigh, Hiyori said, "I believe you."

If she weren't stuck in a hospital bed, Maina looked as though she would fall down at the Origami Head's feet. She clasped her hands together and gave Hiyori an almost adoring look.

"I must ask one more question though," Hiyori said. "Yesterday, you were witnessed by Matsuno Jun having an argument with your husband before the performance. Is it because you told him of your pregnancy that your husband slapped you?"

"Yes. And also because I wanted a divorce," Maina answered.

"Very well then. That is all," Hiyori said.

When they left the hospital, Sergeant Tanaka exclaimed, "Well, we have learned quite a lot there! Wonder if Etou and Kanami-chan are doing just as good with progress..."

Jun was in his dressing room, enjoying a bottle of the alcohol he liked to secretly stash away. The liquor was like hot fire as it made its way down his throat. He liked the feeling—it was the only thing that kept him sane these days. Sluggishly, Jun staggered into a chair and leaned back in it, letting his body flop about wherever.

'Damned nuisance those investigators are...' he internally swore.

Just as he thought this, there came a knocking at his door. By the sound of how hard the person was pounding, one would think there was to be a search warrant. Still light-headed from the alcohol, Jun struggled to remove himself from his chair and open the door.

'Speak of the devil,' Jun thought when his eyes were greeted by the sight of Inspector Etou and Kanami.

The latter stuck her foot out when Jun tried to slam the door in their faces. Kanami bit her lip trying not to cry out loud at her new boo-boo.

"What do you want?" Jun demanded when the two investigators forced their way in.

"You said you were at home around midnight," Inspector Etou said. "However, we went to The LeRoux Bar and found CCTV footage of you there with Kishinouye Hiroshi. What do you have to say about that?"

"Fine!" Jun snarled. "I am part of that stealing shenanigans."

"So, you admit to that, hm? Was Nishiyama Keishi aware of that?" the inspector asked.

"No! If you think this has anything to do with his deserved killing, you're wrong! Why would I murder the man who is practically my money vault?" the theatre performer yelled, drunkenly.

The alcohol on his breath made Inspector Etou step back slightly, trying to rid his nose and mind of the smell. "I will only say this, sir, you're not in a very good position right now. Come on, Kanami. We should talk with the Kishinouyes again."

The Kishinouyes were still in their office. Yoko's desk was tidy the last time they saw it. However, now it was swarmed with papers and documents that seemed to be increasing her alarm. She hid it well, however, and took off her spectacles when the two investigators came in. Hiroshi, who was curled up in his chair, had been asleep due to his wife giving him a calming draught, but he awoke at their entrance.

Inspector Etou addressed Yoko, "Ma'am, you told us that you and your husband were at home at midnight. That was not true. Your husband was at The LeRoux Bar talking with Matsuno-san, wasn't he?"

Yoko opened her mouth to reply, but Hiroshi stopped her. "It's no use, Yoko. There's no point denying it now."

The elderly theatre director had a regretful look in his eyes, as he admitted, "You see the truth is that I knew about Matsuno-san being a bit of a thief. I went to confront and fire him. However, Matsuno-san has a way of always being verbally overpowering in an argument."

"Is that why he's still here?" Kanami grunted.

"I'm a weak elderly man. I can't do anything," Hiroshi sighed.

"Hiroshi dear, you shouldn't be too harsh on yourself," Yoko consoled.

Her husband let out another sigh before saying, "I didn't want this being made public—it would reflect badly on my theatre. And already with Nishiyama-san's murder, my theatre business is on edge. That's why Yoko lied for me."

"Thank you for telling the truth, Kishinouye-san. I know that you care a lot for your theatre, but from now on, being truthful is important in terms of apprehending Nishiyama-san's killer," Inspector Etou said.

"Of course, sir. I apologize, sir."

"As do I," Yoko said, with a bow.

Kanami closed the door after she and her father left, but not before overhearing Yoko exclaim, "Hiro darling..."

"No, Yoko. Stop it," came the anxious response.

The Minoseki Toji frowned when the sounds of Yoko's sobbing echoed in her ears. The violent affliction of the assistant director was so uncharacteristic of her usual composed temperament.

'What is troubling her?' Kanami wondered.

A/N: There are only two more chapters until this fanfic is complete. Excited to finish this written work and start another! :D