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Satsugaisha

By XTsukimiOdangoX

Chapter 2

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            Mamoru's head snapped to the left, his right cheek searing with pain. He gritted his teeth and brought a hesitant hand up to his abused face. Like he needed another wound to add to his collection.

            "Mou*…" the raven-haired man sighed. "You didn't have to slap me, ya know…"

            "You deserved it!" the blonde police officer shrieked.

            "You sure are high-strung, Tsukino-san," Mamoru replied mockingly. He eyed her coolly, letting his hand drop. "I think you need a valium or two."

            Usagi glared at the man before her so intently Mamoru was afraid it would burn right through him.

            "If looks could kill…" Ryo sighed, running a hand through his thick, dark brown hair. "Now, now, Tsukino-san," he chided gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Let's just calm down and stop hitting the help."

            "Help?!" Usagi cried. "HELP?!! You call… THIS GUY help?!!" She frantically waved her finger in Mamoru's face. "He's a complete and utter pain I the ass! I say we screw it and find a new lead on this case!!"

            "Well… that's not very nice…" Mamoru pouted sarcastically. "Do you really hate me that much?"

            "Oh, I don't know, Chiba-san," Usagi answered back calmly, "hate is such a … strong word…" She tapped her chin lightly, as if thinking. "Let me word it this way… I dislike you with a fiery passion from the deepest layer of hell that would make Satan blush!"

            All calm had left the blonde's face, leaving her with flushed cheeks and furious eyes.      

            "Wow," Mamoru sighed in fake admiration. "And you said that all in one breath, too." 

             Usagi used all the restraint in her body not to jump on the man in front of her and blow his brains out with her gun.

            "Get this guy out of my face!" Usagi screeched.

            "Tsukino-san… But…" Urawa Ryo began. "He's the only one who--"

            "Yeah, yeah - watch me give a shit!" Usagi spun around and collapsed in a nearby chair. "Take him to a forensic artist or something!!  Just get him away from me!"

            "Has anyone ever told you that you're a complete bitch?" Mamoru asked curiously.

            Before Mamoru knew it Usagi had pulled out her gun and had aimed it.

            Towards Mamoru's head.

            "Tsukino-san!"

            "Get him away from me, Urawa-san, or I won't be responsible for my actions," she stated matter-of-factly. Her gaze was flat, void of all emotion, but - for some reason - it sent eerie chills up Mamoru's spine.

            "Tsukino-san, you--"

            "It's OK." Mamoru held up a hand to Ryo to silence him. "It's OK," he repeated. "I'll just… go talk to the forensic artist…" He turned and began walking away.

            Usagi's heart sunk. The gun slipped from her fingertips, making a loud thunk on the ground. She watched Chiba Mamoru's retreating back sadly.  His expression had been so… disappointed looking, almost. As if…

            Tsukino Usagi shook her head to rid herself of her previous thoughts. She retrieved her gun and glared at Ryo, who was staring at her oddly. She stood up from her seat and began walking in the same direction Mamoru had gone.

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            "Like this?" the forensic artist - Osama Naru - held up a sketchpad. A face had been drawn on it - the face that Mamoru had seen when he was attacked.

            "No…" Mamoru eyed it thoughtfully. "The nose… It was more… pointy."

            Mamoru suddenly felt two hands rest themselves on his shoulders.

            "You sure are a perfectionist, Chiba-san."

            The said man jumped a bit in his seat. He craned his neck back in confusion to be met with two blue eyes.

            "Tsu-tsukino-san…!" Mamoru stuttered.

            Usagi smiled nervously. "Yeah… I'm… sorry about before…" She removed her hands from Mamoru's shoulder and took a seat next to him. "I… uh…"

            "There's no need to explain," Mamoru replied hastily. "It's… OK."

            "Is that all you say?" Usagi grinned at him. Mamoru blushed lightly.

            "Chiba-san?"

            Mamoru blinked. He turned to Naru. "H-hai**?"

            "Is this good?" Naru questioned, holding back up the sketchpad.

            Usagi gasped.

            "Hai, that's perfect." Mamoru looked over to Usagi and jerked a thumb towards the picture. "This girl is great at drawing, ne?" He smiled. "Well, that's your killer."

            Usagi's eyes were wide with shock. "It was… a girl…?" she choked out.

            "Mmmhm." Mamoru nodded. "A pretty strong one at that." He grinned mockingly. "She reminded me of you."

            Usagi's insides were trembling. It couldn't be!! It wasn't possible!! There was no way that she could be the killer! There was just no way!! Right…?

            "You OK?" Mamoru shook her shoulder gently. Usagi was snapped out of her reverie of denial.

            "N-nani***?" Usagi spun her head to face him. "I… I'm fine… It's just… Are you sure this is the girl?"

            Mamoru scratched slightly at the swollen patch of red skin around his mouth. "Um… yeah, that's her. Why?"

            Usagi gulped. "Well - I mean - how could you really see her face?" Usagi leaned closer to him, completely forgetting that Osama Naru was in the room. Her gaze was intent. "You were attacked by her; do you really think that she would just go prancing about with no mask or anything?"

            Mamoru cocked a curious eyebrow. "So - basically - what you're saying is you don't believe me…?"

            "No!" The blonde held up her arms in defense. "No, that's not it! I'm just saying… Why would she go around without a mask of some sort?"

            Chiba Mamoru shrugged. "How the hell should I know? She's probably pretty damn confident about herself. She didn't think that'd I'd get away, is all." He leaned back in his chair. "I don't know all the details, Tsukino-san. That's your job. But, all I do know is that this woman attacked me and nearly killed me. I don't take things like that too lightly."

            "This leads me to other questions." Usagi's gaze turned more serious. "How did you get away, Chiba-san?"

            Mamoru shifted in his chair nervously. He could feel his butt going painfully numb. He really didn't want to be sitting there any longer, especially with both Usagi and the forensic artist staring at him so intently. However, Usagi wasn't going to let him get away without answering all of her questions.

            I'm going to be here forever, Mamoru groaned mentally.

            "You act like you don't believe me, Tsukino-san." Mamoru feigned being hurt by this.

            "Stop acting so God damn cocky!" Usagi seethed.

            "So, you don't believe me?"

            "No, maybe I don't." The police officer crossed her legs. "So, you're going to have to make me believe you, Chiba-san. Now, answer my questions. How did you get away?"

            Mamoru sighed. "She had me pinned down, the duct tape over my mouth and all…" He stared down at the floor, a far off look in his eyes, voice hushed. "She had a knife… I kept trying to struggle, but she had my wrists tied with rope…" Usagi's eyes flew to his wrists to see rope burn she hadn't noticed before. "I kicked at her… And she weakened a bit, so I rolled her off of me and attempted at getting up and running away…

            "I had just barely gotten off the ground when I felt the knife bury itself in my stomach…" Mamoru ran his fingers gently over the bandages over his torso in remembrance. "She pulled out the knife, and I fell down to the ground again… She grabbed my hair and tried slicing my throat, but I some how ducked a bit, and she cut my forehead instead…

            "I managed to elbow her in the gut, knocking the wind out of her a bit… She doubled over, and that's when I took the opportunity to make a run for it…" Mamoru's eyes seemed slightly unfocused by the end of his story.

            "And she didn't come after you?" Usagi questioned softly. She darted her eyes quickly over to Naru, who was staring at Chiba Mamoru, eyes sad.

            "No…" He looked up, and then over to Usagi. "Maybe because… there were people in the streets… Ya know… Cuz she didn't have a mask or anything…"

            "I suppose that makes sense…" Usagi eyed the sketchbook in Naru's hands sadly. "But, are you positive this was the girl?" she questioned, motioning towards the pad.

            Mamoru nodded.

            Usagi's heart clenched. "Can I see that?" she asked Naru hesitantly.

            The red haired young women nodded and held out the pad. Usagi took it with shaky hands. She stared down at the picture.

            And the face of Hino Rei stared back.

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Notes:

* Mou - Like "Ugh…"

** Hai - "Yes"

*** Nani - "What?"

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Author's Notes: Again: My chapter's take forever. And it's not even like they're long… ^_^;;  I'm sorry I'm so slow! But with so many ideas, plus my ever popular site (that's sarcasm, folks) I have a lot to do on my hands. Sorry, guys, but I'm trying!