After a year hiatus on this story, I'm ready to resume it. I'm sorry for putting it of as I wanted to completely finish my Gravitation fanfic 'Too Far to Reach'. But I'm picking it back up with this chapter. And I'm sorry if the style for the story is different, but this site keeps changing chapters set up and I can't use stars as scene dividers anymore. Well, it's not a big deal.

Chapter 4

"Are you sure you want to write it?" I asked Tsuzuki as we stood near the fax machine. I had to admire how well-funded they were; they had a state-of-the-art fax machine while we still had a standard one.

"Yes," said Tsuzuki, writing quickly on a sheet of paper. "It's nothing too special anyways; just how we got here and how we were brought up to speed about Muraki. Aha!" He held up the paper. "Finished!"

"All right," said Aaron, taking the sheet from him. He placed it in the fax and pressed several buttons. After a minute or so it was sent through.

"Now that that's finished," said Aaron. "How 'bout we get a bite to eat?"

"I'm fine with starting on the case," I replied, not wanting to waste any time.

"Aww, Hisoka!!" complained Tsuzuki, pulling on my sleeve. "I'm huuungry!!"

"Well I'm not, so we should—"

My stomach giving a loud growl cut me off. After a moment's pause both Aaron and Tsuzuki burst out laughing. I glared at both of them, but I couldn't deny the fact that I was hungry. I hadn't even eaten anything that day!!

"All right, all right," I snapped, giving in against my will. "But this won't be some friendly outing. We're still gonna work on the case, okay?"

Aaron put up his arms defensively. "Of course. C'mon, let's go get Bethany."

I stopped in my tracks. "You're inviting HER?!"

"Well, she IS my partner. Plus she's holding onto the case file."

I grumbled, following Aaron and Tsuzuki. It was enough putting up with Yuma and Saya in Japan, but I didn't know how long I would be able to stand a hyperactive American girl who was stuck in the 1950s era with style and lifestyle before I strangled her.

When we entered the main office area, Bethany was sitting close to Jamie, talking to her about something. Jamie was typing at her computer, seemingly ignoring her.

"Bethany, let's go," said Aaron. "We're going out to eat and talk about the case. You got the case file with you, right?"

Bethany turned in her spinning chair, giving Aaron an apologetic look. "Oh, you're gonna cut out? Don't flip, but I left it back at my pad."

"All right," said Aaron. "Then let's swing by your place on the way to the restaurant."

"Righto." Bethany jumped to her feet and turned to Jamie. "I'm gonna split, you dig?"

"Sure," said Jamie, still looking at the computer screen and typing.

Then Bethany did something that shocked me; she leaned down and planted a kiss on top of Jamie's head! My jaw dropped and I glanced at Aaron. Aaron acted like nothing was out of the ordinary.

"Time to cut out!!" declared Bethany, leading the way out of the office. We were quick to follow.

"Um," said Tsuzuki, looking puzzled. But his limit English couldn't really help him blurt out his question.

Bethany glanced at Tsuzuki. "What is it?"

"Jamie," I stated.

Bethany grinned happily. "Let's just say that I'm real gone."

I didn't understand her. "So you have a relationship with her?" I didn't know why I was asking these questions since I wasn't that interested. But Tsuzuki's puzzling expression said he wanted to know.

"Well, we're not circled if that's what you're asking."

"Um—"

"Are you writing a book?" she teased. "Let's stop by my pad!!" she hurried on ahead of us.

Tsuzuki looked at me. "What did she say?"

"The hell if I know," I muttered.

Aaron snorted. "Let's just say they've had a steady relationship for fifteen years."

Tsuzuki and I gaped at him.

"Well, let's catch up to her."


Of course, once we got back to Bethany's "pad", she insisted on changing into another outfit. So there we were, sitting in her living room waiting for her.

The whole apartment looked like the setting of a fifties documentary. Never have I ever seen so much Elvis Presley memorabilia; salt and pepper shakers, a clock, everything!! Tsuzuki and I were sitting on a traditional fifties couch in front of a fifties looking colored television. And her fifties jukebox was playing a variety of fifties classics. The current song, 'Tutti Frutti' was for some reason making me irritated.

"I'm sorry," said Aaron. "She always gets excited about outings and dresses up for them."

"It's all right!" said Tsuzuki. "Well Hisoka, at least she's not forcing you into one of her outfits!"

"Don't mention it around her or she might," I snapped.

Aaron pretended to scrutinize me. "Well, you're as slim as Bethany and about the same height. I'm sure the dresses would fit you."

Tsuzuki burst out laughing.

"Might I remind you we're here to get Muraki, not get me into a fucking dress!!" I roared, jumping to my feet.

"I'm doooone!!" came Bethany's yell as she hurried back into the room. Her hair was still set in its perm, but now she wore a swing skirt decorated in sunflowers, white gloves with a penny purse and white spiked heels. "Am I dolly?"

"Yeah," said Aaron. "Do you have the case?"

Bethany held up a file in her free hand.

"All right, let's go," I said as a song called 'That'll be the day' played on Bethany's jukebox.


"Here's what the victims look like," said Aaron, handing us some photos of mangled bodies. "It seems like he's spree killing since there's no connection between any of the victims, except for the latest victim who happened to be a witness."

I cringed as I looked at the photos. I suddenly lost my appetite. Judging from Tsuzuki's equally disgusted expression; I could tell he wasn't very hungry.

Bethany however, completely oblivious to the change in atmosphere, was flipping through the menu. "I think I'll have a garden salad! I have to keep my classy chassis!!"

I don't know if she realized it, but her old-school slang and outfit was getting a lot of stares. More so than Tsuzuki was getting.

I looked at Tsuzuki then, seeing how pale he was. Whenever Muraki killed someone he took all of the blame into himself. Now he no longer looked cheerful and it was starting to get to me. I reached over and squeezed his shoulder.

"Did you see the dessert menu?" I said, removing the photos from his line of vision. "All kinds of your favorites. How about you choose whatever you want; my treat."

Tsuzuki glanced at me, the light coming back into his eyes. "Really?"

"Yep. Tatsumi limits us to 3,000 yen meals, but I've saved up some money. Order whatever you like."

"WAI!!!!!" Tsuzuki threw his arms around me in a tight embrace before turning to the menu. "Well then, I'll have this and this and this and this and this!!! Ooh, and definitely this!!"

I mentally calculated all this. Since 3,000 yen was an equivalent of 27 American dollars and Tsuzuki was asking for over fifty dollars worth of desserts, which equaled to almost 6,000 yen.

Hey, I was the one who offered. Luckily I converted some of my money before coming to America.

Both Aaron and Bethany were giving me these knowing smiles that were annoying the hell out of me. I grumbled to myself and started reading the context of the case. "So, the last case of death was near the Adirondack Mountains?"

"Yeah," said Aaron, disguising his knowing smile behind his menu. "That's where we picked up our victim/witness."

Bethany giggled at me. "Tsuzuki and you are jacketed, aren't you?"

Aaron choked on his water. Though I didn't have much of a clue about her slang, I had something of an idea of what she meant.

"I'm going to the bathroom," I grumbled, jumping to my feet. "If the waiter stops in, tell him I want a steak or something."

Tsuzuki looked at me, surprised. "Steak? Hisoka, you aren't usually as heavy of an eater."

"People who eat a lot are usually emotional," snickered Aaron.

I hurried to the bathroom before I lost my temper and decked him. I ran to the sink and ran the water. I splashed some icy water onto my face, trying to ignore the thoughts running through my head.

Why is everyone so insisting that I like Tsuzuki? I thought angrily. Sure, I do like him, but everyone seems to think I LIKE like him!!

Well, it would explain why you were jealous of Tatsumi and those women gawking at him, said another voice. Not that you don't have good reason; he is very handsome and wears a smile for everyone even when he's upset. He brought you out of your shell when you didn't trust anyone and it's because of him that you were able to make so many friends. And you in turn saved him when all he wanted to do was die. Pretty fair match, don't you think?

I punched the sink. I don't like him like that!!! He's just a friend, nothing more!! And I'm pretty sure he feels the same way!! I—

I wasn't able to finish my thought. I was suddenly struck by a horrible headache. I saw black patches in my vision. I squeezed my eyes shut and clutched my head.

That's when I saw it. A wooded area. A middle-aged woman lay bloodied, her blank eyes staring up at the sky, her tears mixing with the blood on her face…

Someone was standing over her, wiping a knife. A bile rose in my throat as I saw Muraki's satisfied expression as he surveyed the murder he had just committed.

Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the vision and the headache were gone. When I opened my eyes I was laying on my back in the men's room. I had blacked out…but for how long?

I quickly jumped to my feet and ran from the bathroom. My visions were usually always correct. And I knew that Muraki had killed again.

I reached the table. The food had been brought out and set upon the table, a clear indication that I had been out for a while.

"Just in time," said Aaron, pointing to my large steak. "I got yours medium rare—"

"Muraki's killed again!!" I hissed.

They all froze. Tsuzuki dropped his fork which had a healthy helping of lemon pie.

"Is he here?" Aaron hissed back, looking cautious around.

"No, I saw him killing someone in a wooded area. It was a woman and it looks like he stabbed her to death."

"Do you usually have visions of Muraki?"

"Usually I see a vision if the person we're looking for is close by. But this time…it's strange. I saw him committing a murder elsewhere."

"Wooded area…can you give me any other details?"

"Um…I saw a mountain range of trees beyond the trees around them."

Aaron stood up. "He's at the Adirondack Mountains. Let's go. Maybe we can get him."

Tsuzuki stood up. "Yeah…let's go."

Bethany looked at all of us, confused. We had been speaking in Japanese so she didn't know what was going on. "Are you guys going?"

"We'll be right back," promised Aaron. "Keep an eye on the food, okay?"

Bethany nodded. "I dig."

We hurried from the restaurant. With any luck, we would catch Muraki before long.

Here are more translations of Bethany's words, courtesy of

cut out—leave
flip—get excited
pad—house
righto—okay
split—leave
real gone—very much in love
circled—married
Are you writing a book?—You're asking too many questions
dolly—cute girl
classy chassis—great body
jacketed—going out