A/N: Alright, here's Chapter Three of Kiki's Dog, as asked for by one of my followers on AO3 and Tumblr. Please read and review, and enjoy!
The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Kiki's Dog!
Chapter Three: Kiyo's Confession!
Shinguji, when I get my hands on you, you'll wish you had never enrolled in my school! Makoto seethed as he continued to ferociously roam the halls of his mansion. Once he entered the main foyer, Makoto sighed "Damn, he got away…"
"Unhand me this instant!"
"Huh?" Makoto exclaimed at the familiar yell. "Is that Shinguji? It sounds like it's coming from outside. Did…did someone apprehend him already?"
Makoto shook the thought from his head and hurried towards the door before he threw it open. Makoto gaped at the sight in front of him; Kiyo had been knocked down to the ground as a feminine foot pressed into his back while a familiar purple-haired boy grinned at him and an equally familiar red-haired woman in witch's garb stared at the scene with a bored expression.
"Tell your girlfriend to get your foot off me this instant, Oma!"
"Quiet, you degenerate! We've finally caught you!"
"Nee hee hee! Aww, how does it feel knowing that you're finally caught and strung up like all those ceremonies you love so much?"
"Himiko, would you be a…"
"Nyeh, Quiet you, or I'll turn you into a chicken."
Makoto blinked in shock as he exclaimed "Kokichi? Himiko? Tenko?!"
Kokichi looked at his former Headmaster and grinned as he greeted "Nee hee hee! Long time, no see, Headmaster! What brings you around here?"
"…I live here, Kokichi." Makoto sweatdropped before his former student gave an expression of faux surprise.
"Oh, really? I…didn't know that…"
"Nyeh, quit lying, Kichi! You told us that your D.I.C.E. guys gave you intel that Shinguji was targeting the Headmaster's house tonight!"
"Yeah, and just when I thought you had ceased your degenerate ways!" Tenko scolded "You're lucky Himiko likes you!"
"Nee hee…sorry, old habits die hard." Kokichi apologized with a strangely sincere smile.
Makoto just stood there, dumbfounded at the exchange before he finally coughed into his fist to get their attention.
"Well, thank you for catching him, you three…but, why were you chasing Shinguji anyway?"
"That's a bit of a long story…" Tenko explained nervously before she asked "Is there a chance we could explain it to you and the Vice-Headmistress together?"
"Nyeh…what a pain…" Himiko whined.
Makoto sighed and nodded as he agreed "Alright, if you're confident that you can keep him restrained, then I'll see if I can get her to come out. She's comforting our daughter right now…but I'll see what I can do."
"Ah, Kiki, right?" Kokichi grinned as he cheered "I always did like her…ow!"
Kokichi nursed the lump on his head as Tenko chastised "Don't say it like that; you'll sound as degenerate as the weasel under my heel!"
"Ow, okay I get it! Don't hit me so hard next time, or Himiko might break up with you…"
"Nyeh…I'd never do that! I promised to share my love with you equally!" Himiko interrupted.
They're in a three-way relationship…? Now's not the time to think about that! "Alright, I'll…see if I can go grab Kyoko."
Tenko saluted and assured him "Just leave it to us, Headmaster! If he tries anything, I'll teach him a lesson with my Neo-Aikido skills!"
With a small smile of gratitude, Makoto turned around and ran back into the house, leaving a nervous Kiyo in the hands of his former classmates who were all too eager to rough him up if he tried anything.
XXX
"Hey! How is she doing?" Makoto asked as he walked back into Kiki's room.
Kyoko gently stroked Kiki's hair as the dog softly whined and nuzzled Kiki's cheek with his nose.
She looked up at Makoto and answered as she came to a stop "She's doing better, I think. So, what happened to Shinguji? Did he escape?"
Makoto shook his head and denied "No, he's caught, but not by me, and the ones who apprehended him want to talk to both of us together."
Kyoko raised an eyebrow in curiosity before she sighed and eased Kiki off her lap.
"Shikata wa nai. Kiki, you stay here in your room and lock the door, alright? We'll be back as soon as…"
"I want to come too!"
Both parents stared at their daughter, dumbfounded by her sudden insistence to go where her would-be killer was.
"Kiki…" Kyoko tried to dissuade "You survived an attempt on your life, and we're going to be going back to where Shinguji is. You don't need to face him again, especially not so soon."
"But Mom…I…I need to know…why he tried to kill me! I…I never said or did anything to him. So why…why did he try to kill me? I need answers, Mom! I have to know why Korekiyo Shinguji felt he tried to kill me!"
Kiki… Makoto and Kyoko thought, struck speechless by the burning determination for the truth that was uniquely Makoto.
"I had to know why Sayaka had to die."
Kyoko sighed as she caved and compromised "You have to stay behind me and hold my hand at all times, understand?"
Kiki nodded "Yes, Mom" as her literal guard dog trotted next to her as it stood with solemness and pride.
"…Alright, Makoto, you hold Mokubo."
Makoto nodded as he took his son into his arms while Kyoko wrapped Kiki's hand tightly in her own with the protectiveness that only a mama bear could exude.
"Well then, shall we go?"
XXX
"Kokichi? Tenko? Himiko?" Kyoko asked in surprise as the two girls waved awkwardly at their former Vice-Headmistress.
Kokichi however grinned and giggled "Nee hee hee, long time no see, Vice-Headmistress. It's so good to see you…oh, and it's Kiki too! Hey there!" Kiki bit her lip in nervous fright before her dog growled at the former prankster, who held up his hands and backtracked "Alright, alright, sorry."
The dog's growling ceased after he was petted by Kiki. With a fragile peace restored, Kyoko turned her attention to her former students.
"Now, what are you three doing here? And why have you apprehended Shinguji?"
Once Kokichi pressed his foot against Kiyo's back, Tenko released him and approached her former Headmaster and Vice-Headmistress before she bowed and offered "Please, allow me to explain, Vice-Headmistress."
"Very well." Kyoko nodded her assent.
"So, it started after we all graduated. My interactions with you led me to realize that I wanted to use my Neo-Aikido skills to stop degenerates and their criminal behavior. So, as hard as it may be to believe, Kokichi and I decided to join the force as police officers."
…You've got to be kidding… The two parents thought as they stared with wide eyes at the former prankster who turned his head to look at them with a grin.
"Nee hee hee…it's true! My constant trips to your office made me realize that I could be much more productive with my trouble, so I figured I'd cause trouble for the bad guys instead! It's so much more fun! I even got my former D.I.C.E. guys to join!"
"Nyeh…I help out too with my magic…" Himiko added.
…I can't tell if Kokichi's antics would be an asset or annoyance to the police… Kyoko thought before she shook it from her head and accepted with a nod "Very well, but why did the police want to apprehend Shinguji?"
Tenko took over the conversation again as she explained "You see, after we all made the force, we got put on this serial murder case that had stumped everyone else throughout our middle school years. Apparently young girls had been turning up dead, but they could never find the killer."
Just like the Genocide Jack cases… Makoto and Kyoko realized. Could he have tried to copy her? But why?
"But we found out something the other idiot cops missed!" Kokichi interjected with a proud smile.
Kyoko and Tenko let the insult slide due to the importance of Kokichi's information and allowed him to continue speaking.
"Although the murders didn't completely stop, they did slow down during the years we had entered Hope's Peak, then picked up again after we graduated. That clued us in that the killer was likely a student at Hope's Peak Academy."
I…I let a killer…into Hope's Peak Academy…? Makoto thought in shock before Tenko took over again.
"Anyway, after we deduced that, we looked further into the 99 cold cases and found that each of the victims had interacted with someone matching Kiyo's description before their deaths. Once we had narrowed down Kiyo's status as the culprit, we knew we had to catch him in the act before he killed anyone else."
Kokichi interjected again "That's when I called upon my former D.I.C.E. guys to tail Kiyo, and they reported back to us that Kiyo was planning to target your house."
"That's right, and once we knew what that degenerate was planning, we got permission from the Chief to perform a stakeout so we could stop him before he could execute his dastardly scheme!"
Tenko deflated as Himiko pointed out "Nyeh…too bad they got drowsy and missed him as he snuck inside."
Tenko bowed her head shamefully and apologized "A careless error on our parts. Please forgive us for our incompetence, Vice-Headmistress!"
Kyoko sighed and assured her "Don't be. It takes time to get used to stakeouts, and your presence helped to catch the man who tried to kill my daughter. For that, I'll be eternally grateful."
"Still…it was unprofessional of us to fall asleep on the job when someone's life was at stake. So please, if there's anything I can do to make up for our bumbling, let me know!"
Anything…? Kyoko smiled and nodded as she replied "Alright…I think I know of something." Tenko looked up at her former Vice-Headmistress hopefully as Kyoko explained "I'd like to interrogate Korekiyo Shinguji personally. I need to know why exactly he targeted my daughter, and Kiki's been desperate to know too. I know it's not exactly standard protocol, but I am a former detective, so a private interrogation shouldn't be a problem."
Tenko mulled it over before she smiled and nodded as she agreed "Well, it won't be an official interrogation, but I suppose I can allow you to ask him a few questions. We'll keep him restrained, as promised."
"Thank you." Kyoko replied before a furious Makoto strode over to Kiyo and yanked him into a standing position by the collar.
"Well, Korekiyo Shinguji, looks like you've earned yourself a trip to my office."
Kiyo gulped nervously as Kyoko thought It's technically my office, but I get your point. "Well then, shall we go?"
The others nodded before they walked into the Naegi Manor, Kiyo restrained by Makoto and Tenko as he flinched with each growl from Kiki's guard dog.
XXX
Once Kyoko had deposited her son in his crib and made sure he was still asleep, the group had gathered in Kyoko's office. Makoto sat in her chair at her desk while Kiyo sat in a chair directly opposite from him. The anthropologist shivered as he felt Tenko's breath hissing against his skin while Kyoko, and Kiki watched from a distance. Kokichi, and Himiko meanwhile were investigating Kiki's bedroom for evidence.
Makoto glared at Kiyo, a rare fury in his gentle green eyes as he folded his hands in front of him and demanded in as calm a voice as he could muster "Korekiyo Shinguji. You broke into my home, snuck into my daughter's bedroom, and attempted to take her life. What I want to know…is why? Why did you try to murder my daughter?"
"Why should I say anything that would so obviously incriminate me…"
"Korekiyo." The three adults stared in shock as Kiyo pulled down his face mask, exposing rosy red lips that made him appear almost feminine as he spoke in an equally feminine voice "The jig is up, Korekiyo. The honorable thing to do now is to face up to what you have done."
What the hell… They thought as Kiyo returned his face mask and his voice deepened.
"Yes…you're right. I must confess to my misdeeds."
"Mom, what's going on?" Kiki whispered. "It sounds like he's talking to someone who's not even here."
"I don't know, sweetie. Let's just keep listening and we'll find out soon." Kyoko whispered back, hiding her disturbed feelings as Kiyo continued.
"Why I tried to kill Kiki Naegi…is why I also killed those other 99 girls. It was…for her. The one I treasure most inside of me."
"I'm in no mood for riddles, Shinguji. Get to the point al…"
"Sister."
Huh? His…sister? Kiki wondered as she watched Kiyo speak with an unusual affection in his voice.
"I loved her so deeply…And she loved me so deeply…The fact that we were siblings…meant nothing to us. They called it forbidden love, but none could stop the love we shared…ooh…how I long for my sister's warmth…The only time I felt at peace…was when I was enveloped in my sister's warmth!"
This is really creepy! The others thought as Kiyo continued.
"That is why…for my beloved sister…I had to kill for her." Kiyo sensed everyone's befuddled expressions and explained "Sister was very sickly…She was always in and out of the hospital ever since she was a child. Because of that, she didn't have many friends. She always seemed so lonely…Even if I could be her little brother and her lover, I couldn't be her friend."
This doesn't make any sense! Kiki thought as she asked herself Why would he need to kill for her if she didn't have many friends? I already told him that I wouldn't mind meeting her, so why…
"So I thought I'd find her some friends. Friends for my dear deceased sister."
Huh? Kiki thought, shocked at the sudden revelation.
"My sister is now a ghost, so her friends should be ghosts too, right?" Kiyo reasoned. "For Sister's sake…I've killed many! To send her 100 friends! They were all wonderful people! Worthy of being Sister's friends!" As Makoto stared in shock at just how off the deep end his former student was, Kiyo chuckled "Kehehe…Sister is very happy."
He then pulled down his face mask and his voice grew more feminine as he spoke "Yes, Korekiyo…I am very happy. Thanks to you, I am not lonely. I am Korekiyo's older sister. Thank you for looking after my little brother, Headmaster Naegi."
It took all of Makoto's self-control to keep his disapproving expression plastered on his face as Kiyo replaced his face mask and his voice deepened again.
"After I lost my beloved sister, I was so distraught, I nearly went mad. But Sister came to save me. She visited me during one of my seances and stayed inside me…Kehehe…now I can see her whenever I want. I'm never lonely…"
Kiyo pulled down his face mask again as his feminine voice continued "That's wonderful, Korekiyo. Your love made the impossible, possible."
A…A split personality…? Is he…like Toko and Genocide Jack…? Makoto shook the thought from his head and denied No, this is different. Toko and Jill had different looks in their eyes. But Korekiyo is still Korekiyo. He's just delusional.
Kiyo then replaced his face mask once again and explained "As for how I came to target Kiki…I already knew she'd be a great friend for Sister the day I met her. When I saw her childlike innocence and desire for a friend in place of her busy parents, I knew that sister would love her."
He…he had already set his sights on her the day of that magic show? Kyoko paled as she wrapped her arms tighter around her daughter, as if to protect her from Kiyo.
"And then, when I met her in the hospital, and she told me that she would like to meet Sister…I knew right then and there that I had found the perfect friend for sister! I was so happy…Her noble, earnest heart made her a perfect friend for sister."
Kiki paled as she realized So…that day…I basically gave him permission to kill me…?
"Of course, I couldn't act immediately; she was too young and I wanted to give Sister a friend with some more emotional maturity. So I bade my time, and once I had graduated, I knew that it wouldn't be long until Kiki would be ripe to send to Sister. And I was so close!" Kiyo clenched his fists in frustration as he reflected "So close…to giving Sister her one hundredth friend!"
Kiyo pulled down his face mask again and spoke in his feminine voice "Korekiyo, you're such a thoughtful little brother. But it was bad to get greedy."
Kiyo pulled his face mask back up and agreed "You're right…Because of that, now I can't send 100 friends to Sister. That is my only regret."
Makoto grit his teeth and lectured "Korekiyo Shinguji, you preyed on an eight-year-old girl just to satisfy some ridiculous delusion. For that, I can never forgive you." Makoto then stood up, his pajamas and short stature somehow not reducing the intimidation he exuded, just as Kokichi and Himiko walked in.
"Hey Tenko! We finished scrubbing the crime scene for evidence!"
"Nyeh…we're ready to leave whenever you are."
"Perfect timing." Makoto stated with disgust in his voice. "Tenko, get him out of my sight and away from my family."
"Yessir!" Tenko saluted before she lifted Kiyo into a standing position by his collar and cuffed him from behind. "Let's go, you degenerate!"
"Nee hee hee…aww, you look so glum! It's only jail after all!" Kokichi teased.
"Kiki, it's a shame you didn't want to meet Sister after all. She would have loved you."
Kiki shivered in her mother's arms before Himiko nudged him from behind and interrupted "Nyeh, let's go. You're such a pain."
Kyoko's office fell into silence as the trio removed Kiyo from the mansion, leaving the Naegi family in an awkward and tense silence.
XXX
It was an easy choice; with the memory of Kiyo's attempt to murder Kiki in her bedroom still fresh in her mind, the eight-year-old girl wanted to sleep under the protection of her parents' loving arms. Not to mention that the episode had made the two young parents want to hug their daughter as well.
And with that, the three of them quickly moved back into Makoto and Kyoko's bed. Kiki lay snuggled in between her parents in their warm arms with her newest protector curled up at her feet.
"You know…I think he's a keeper, Kiki." Kyoko uttered sleepily.
Kiki's drowsy eyes looked up at her mother as they widened in shock and the surprised girl asked "Mom…do you really…"
Kyoko nodded "Yes, I'm closing the trial early. You've proven that you can take care of him, and if it wasn't for him, you might not be alive right now. I think he's the perfect pet for you."
"Mom…thank you…" Kiki gasped as she snuggled into her mother's chest. Kyoko pressed a kiss to her head before the young girl spoke "Ano…Mom, I think I know the perfect name for him."
"Oh, really? What…what is it?" Kyoko yawned.
"Well…he protected me when I needed him, so I was thinking, what about Hogo?"
"Hogo…protection…yes, it sounds like a fitting name for him. Alright, Hogo it is." Kyoko looked down affectionately at the dog and petted his head with her foot, which made him whine in pleasure as she cooed "Welcome to the family, Hogo."
With that, Kyoko and Kiki snuggled together once more as they closed their eyes and fell into slumber, blissfully unaware of the turmoil raging in Makoto's soul.
I accepted Shinguji into Hope's Peak Academy…and I never even knew that he was a killer. What…what have I done?!