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~ One more chapter after this. You didn't really think I'd give away the killer in this chapter did you? No! Chiriko gets his own chapter followed by The Startling Conclusion. Some of you are coming closer and a couple of you are almost dead on, but no one has yet to describe the scenario perfectly. You get the last of the clues now so get ready to review with your final ideas at the end. Chapter Eight will be the last one. I hope no one actually dies of suspense before I write it. I see that some of you are dying but I hope you hold onto life in order to learn who the true killer(s) is. ~
Chapter Seven: Chiriko
By: omni82
Chiriko padded into the room, looking small and scared. Houki tried with little success to squelch the stirrings of pity she had for him. He was just a boy after all, and probably not a murderer. She'd go easy on him because despite what Mitsukake had insinuated, Houki just couldn't believe that such an innocent child could be involved in something so terrible.
"Sit down, Chiriko-sama," Houki instructed gently. Her maternal instincts nearly blinded her as she watched the little boy scramble unto the couch in front of her. He was just so cute!
"Have you found the killer yet, your majesty?" Chiriko questioned. His small feet swung in the air in a vain attempt to connect with the ground.
"That's what I wanted to speak to you about," Houki said. "Did you hear anything suspicious tonight?"
The seventh seishi's face scrunched up in an unconscious expression of thought. "Well, I heard a lot of moaning and some shouting. But I don't think they were from Tamahome getting killed."
"Did you recognize the voice?" Houki pressed.
"Well, the man's voice was definitely Tamahome's but I didn't recognize the girl's. I think they were making a baby." Chiriko made a face.
Houki's sixth sense picked up. This kid was supposed to be a genius so why did he call it 'making a baby' instead of the technical term? Was he using his youth as a cover?! Chiriko should give Hotohori a few lessons in acting if he was.
"It's funny how no one else heard those noises. Not even Tasuki reported them and he was next door to Tamahome."
"Maybe Tasuki-kun slept through them." Chiriko offered.
"Slept through noises so loud that even you heard them down the hall? I don't think so." Houki cut off his protest and ruthlessly pushed ahead. "What do you know about the making of poisons?"
"This and that," Chiriko replied evasively. "Surely you don't suspect me, do you?"
"I suspect everyone," Houki told the diminutive seishi shortly. "A genius has ample knowledge for setting up this crime. I'm beginning to think that you had a hand in it, yes. So why don't you tell me what went on tonight Chiriko? I promise to go easy on you if you cooperate."
"I don't know anything." Chiriko maintained stubbornly. Yet, an angry light flickered in his eyes but whether it was because she was unjustly accusing him or because she was coming too close, Houki couldn't tell.
"Let me put it more simply for you. Did you concoct the poison that killed Tamahome?"
"No. You are wasting your breath, woman. Why don't you go pop out a baby or something useful for a change." Chiriko sneered. The young empress was momentarily startled by the vulgar filth spewing from the boy's mouth. To think she had thought him young and naïve!
"Did you help orchestrate Tamahome's murder?" She demanded.
"Orchestrate this," Chiriko said, making an obscene gesture.
"Did you kill Tamahome!" Houki yelled, slamming her hands down on the nearby table. She was getting fed up with this witness.
"I didn't kill Tamahome but if you persist in this line of questioning, I can make sure you see how it was done. Firsthand."
That was a threat if she ever heard one. Houki summoned the guards who roughly hauled the boy away. Chiriko hadn't provided any answers, only insults. His adamant refusal to answer was suspicious. Nearly everyone had denied killing Tamahome. There was only one person who hadn't. All roads were leading back to the beginning it seemed. Someone had to be guilty and Houki had a good idea, now, who it was.
Striding out into the hallway, she held conference with the head sentry. "Assemble all of Suzaku's warriors at the scene of the crime. Its time that Tamahome had some justice."
TBC…
~ No preview. Sorry. Can any of you remember who didn't deny killing Tamahome without looking back? I left some pretty hefty clues. Leave your thoughts and I'll announce who came closest to solving Houki's Murder Mystery in Chapter Eight. Until then, good luck! ~
