Fry Hard
Disclaimer: Still don't own any of it. Probably never will. This is all out of fun, and to satisfy my morbid side. (Tosses morbid side a cookie)
Warning: Language, death, violence, sexual suggestions
Uber important note: I really need a Beta! If anyone is willing to be my Beta and read/edit my fics before I update, please email me at with your name, penname, age, email, fave fic genre and fave pairings. I really hope someone out there can help me out!
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Chapter four: Pandemonium on Parsley Paradise
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"Oh, God..." Pan breathed, staring at Cherry's lifeless face. "How could the killer have gotten in here?"
Kat appeared at Pan's elbow, "Don't you remember? Tsuki said there wasn't anyone uninvited here, so someone in this room is the murderer." She said it matter-of-factly as if it didn't bother her in the least.
The doors to the room suddenly slammed open. Standing in the doorway were Roha and Pelstos, both armed with now useless flashlights.
"Is everyone okay?" Roha demanded, glancing around apprehensively.
"Cherry's not," Trey responded with a wickedly amused grin, gesturing to the marionette.
Pelstos moved to examine the body, "Who the hell has my crossbow!?"
Pan blinked, "What do you mean? How do you know it's your crossbow, let alone a crossbow and not a bow?"
The priest smirked, "For one, the arrows used in crossbows are smaller and thicker than normal ones, it was definitely a crossbow bolt that killed Cherry. And I know it was mine because of the feathers on the end. They're the ones Roha gave me from her demon form's wings."
Spork gasped, pointing an accusing finger at Pelstos, "You're the killer!"
"What? How can I be? I was outside the room with Roha the entire time, when the power went out I went with her to find flashlights. We just got back now," Pelstos explained, looking to Roha for her side of the story.
Roha nodded in confirmation, "He's right, we were outside the entire time, he never left my side for a second. Plus, someone took Pelstos' crossbow two days ago." She shrugged, "We haven't been able to find it yet."
Spatula coughed politely, "I have another thing to add. When the power went out, Cherry was still alive, but during the black out I heard an odd sound, like a bow string being released."
Squirrel nodded vigorously, "I did too!"
Sou quickly put it together, "So, Spatula, you're saying that whoever killed Cherry, and likely the other girls, had to be able to see in the dark. That narrows it down to all the demons present."
Pelstos sighed, "That doesn't help much, half the people here are demons."
"But there's one thing that bothers me," Roha said quietly, "when Kagome was taken, all of the staff members were in two rooms, our alibis are backed up by the others. The paw prints found where Kagome was taken don't match any of our demon form paws. And, when I examined Risa, I determined she died near dawn, the blood hadn't dried yet, and for three hours before dawn every demon was in the main room. Except Squirrel, she left for a few minutes."
All eyes turned on Squirrel. The young demon blinked, "I went to the bathroom, that's all. I was gone for only a minute."
Pelstos frowned, "The bathroom is in the opposite direction of Risa's room. Squirrel would have had to really run to get to Risa, pick the lock, kill Risa and get back. She would have been out of breath when she returned."
"So, we're no closer to finding the killer than we were when Kagome was killed," Tsuki muttered, scowling at the floor.
"What we need is a detective, like Sherlock Holmes," Touji laughed quietly to himself.
"I wish my dad was here, he's a detective," Rachel said, sighing unhappily. She didn't notice Conan roll his eyes and snicker.
Jagaimo glanced at Tsuki, "When is the boat due back? We can all just leave on that, and then we won't be in any danger."
Tsuki's ears drooped, "It won't return for another week at least." She growled, "We have a small motorboat, but that's useless with all of us, especially in this storm."
"Not for me!" Trey called, smirking. "You forget, I'm a pirate, I've sailed in stormier waters than those weakling waves outside. I can take the motorboat to the mainland; I just need a crew, at least four others."
Dicen tossed a pair of dice on the ground, grinning at the numbers, "I'll go! If the odds are against me, it makes it ten times more fun!" She moved to stand beside Trey.
"Three more," Trey said, looking at the group.
"I-I'll go..." Jagaimo offered, timidly raising his hand.
Pelstos laughed, "I knew you had some guts, cat!" He slapped Jagaimo's back in approval, jostling the unsteady tiger demon. "Way to prove everyone wrong, Jagaimo." He smirked as Roha sulkily handed him a handful of money. "And way to earn me some cash."
"I'll go as well," Sou said suddenly, proudly standing at his full height. He smiled at Tsuki.
"Oh, my Sou-chan is so brave!" Tsuki breathed, starry-eyed as she hugged Sou. She frowned, "But, who will protect you, Sou?"
Sou blinked, "I don't need to be protected...do I?" He glared at Squirrel, Spork and Aurora as they went into fits of giggles.
Tsuki shot Dicen and Trey dirty looks, "I can't let you go alone with those two grabby girls! I'm coming too!"
Dicen growled indignantly, "I don't want you're coy little priest! Spatula is mine!" She immediately clung to Spatula's arm.
Trey examined her newly assembled crew, "All right. Let's go." She left the room, followed by the four.
Touji's ears drooped, "Ki-chan! Don't leave! It's too dangerous!"
Tsuki stopped, looking back at her brother, "No worries! Trey's a great captain. Spork, you're in charge of my job while I'm gone!!" She waved merrily, closing the door behind her.
Spork cheered, "Yea! I got Tsuki's job!" She paused, blinking, "What's her job?"
Pan shrugged, turning her attention to the other contestants, "Okay, even with those five gone, we still need to be on guard. We don't know if the killer's still here or not."
"I highly doubt the killer would have left with the others," Brock remarked, taking a long draught of his tea.
"Either way, be careful," Pan ordered, looking each person in the eyes, "all of you. Don't wander around alone." She stopped, appearing thoughtful. "Also, I'm going to postpone the cook-off until further notice, too much has happened recently. That is all." She nodded her head, dismissing everyone.
The guests left the room in groups of twos and threes, each watching the others suspiciously.
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Brock headed to the hot springs, unaccompanied by anyone. He figured he was more than capable of protecting himself if the killer came around, he was armed with a cast iron skillet after all.
As he relaxed in the steamy waters, Brock began to feel drowsy. He frowned, why was he tired? He usually got up earlier than he did today.
"You've been under a lot of stress, Brock," a cool female voice said from behind him.
Brock turned, smiling up at the girl, "Hey, what're you up to?"
A laugh, "Nothing. You look tense, I could give you a massage if you like." She shrugged carelessly, "It's one of my specialties."
Brock grinned, "All right." He immediately relaxed under the soft, deft fingers as they worked the knots out of his shoulders. With each passing second he began to feel more and more drowsy. He dunked his head under water, trying to clear up the grogginess, but he couldn't get his head back above the surface. He was being held under!
Minutes later, Brock's visitor stood up, laughing coldly, "Moronic pervert, you're not going to win the contest now." She quickly left the area, not even glancing back at her last victim.
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In the dining room, Pan, Spork and Squirrel were playing a game of Strip Poker. None had lost a single article of clothing though, seeing as they didn't know how to play poker. Pelstos was teaching Touji the fine arts of vodka shots, and the wolf was having the time of his life too. Spatula was enjoying a game of Hide-N-Seek with Aurora and Kat, the girls were perched on the large oak rafters snickering each time Spatula walked by underneath them.
Roha raced into the dining room at a breakneck speed, but she couldn't slow down fast enough on the smooth wooden floor with only her socks on. With a startled cry she went tumbling head over heels into the side of the bar. Touji and Pelstos paused to look down at her, it took them a moment to realize what had happened but when they did, both were on their feet helping Roha back up.
Pan, trying to silence Spork and Squirrel's giggles, looked worriedly at the dizzy wolf demon, "Roha, what in the world are you doing?"
Roha blinked, shaking her head and wincing in pain, "It's...it's Brock! He's dead! In the hot springs!" She slumped into Touji's arms, for once not caring that the pervert was violating his restraining order.
Touji checked Roha's pulse just to be on the safe side, "She's fine. Just knocked out from that little collision." He stood up, Roha in his arms, "Go check the hot springs, I'll take Roha to her room." He headed for the door.
Everyone exchanged glances. With a short laugh, Pelstos followed Touji. "I'll make sure he leaves Roha alone." He waved his hand at the remaining demons, "Go check on Brock already!"
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Roha's statement was true; floating facedown in the hot spring was Brock. The crew didn't spend long examining the body; there was nothing they could do. Spatula, with Aurora and Kat's assistance, removed Brock from the water, bringing him to where the other bodies had been taken.
Pan again assembled the guests in the main hall—all the staff was present except for Roha. It didn't take a detective to figure out who the most recent victim had been, yet most of them were completely unaffected by the loss as Brock had not made much of an alliance with anyone. Nonetheless, a dark, foreboding silence filled the room.
With a sharp cough to break the silence, Martha spoke, "So much for your idea of safety in groups, Pan!"
The fox demon shrugged nonchalantly, "It isn't my fault Brock didn't stay with a group, you can't take it out on me."
"Like Hell I can't!" Martha scoffed, eyes narrowed, "you brought us here in the first place. You should be held responsible!"
"Are you off your rocker, Lady!?" Aurora burst out, "You can't blame Pan. How could she have known there was a murderer?"
Martha laughed a cold, humorless laugh, "I would bet all my stocks that Pan was the murderer! If you haven't noticed, only the contestants have been killed thus far!"
Kat narrowed her eyes, glaring viciously at the woman, "It's probably because demons are much more of a threat than you pathetic excuses for life." She didn't even need to raise her voice, the cold, cutthroat tone brought far more impact. The entire effect was ruined when she giggled, waving a hand at Pelstos, "Except you, Mr. Priest, you're not a pathetic excuse for life!"
Pelstos smirked slightly, nodding his head, "Glad to hear it, I was beginning to worry for a moment."
Touji snickered, slinging an arm over the tall man's shoulder, "We all love ya, even if you are just a powerless lump o' flesh! Ya gotta tell me what Roha sees in ya!" He swayed slightly, the earlier vodka taking effect. If it hadn't been for the fact that he was leaning against Pelstos' sturdy frame, the poor writer would have been facedown on the floor in seconds.
"Whoa, there, lech," Pelstos laughed, using a hand to steady the demon. "I think you've had one too many drinks, my friend. It's off to bed with you." Walking slowly, he led Touji out of the room.
Martha huffed, quite miffed at being insulted then ignored. "It's obvious none of you care about our well-being! Look at you, some of your staff is drunk, others abandoned us here on this Hell hole and the rest are playing childish games!" She thrust a finger in Squirrel, Spork, Spatula and Aurora's direction. The four were in the middle of a game of 'Who Stole The Cookie From The Cookie Jar'.
Pan shook her head, "Their lack in maturity cannot be viewed as a lack in sincerity, Miss Stuart."
A giggle came from Squirrel. "Ooo! Pan used big words!" Martha shot her a look, startling the young demon into seeking refuge behind her counterpart, Spork.
Spork, violet eyes glinting maliciously, took a threatening step toward Martha. "You got something to say, bi-atch!?"
"Spork! Watch your language!" Pan ordered, staring in shock at the haughty squirrel demon.
"That's it. I'm finding my own way off this God forsaken island!" Martha announced. She stormed out of the room with a flip of her hair.
Squirrel grinned, "Hundred bucks says she tries to swim back."
Kat and Spork clapped their hands, "Why, that would be absolutely delicious!"
Snickers, giggles and nervous laughs were the only sounds in the room, all brought to silence as an earsplitting scream came from outside.
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KT: Sorry that took so long to finish. I got halfway through, but lost my train of thought for about a month. I hope you all enjoyed that! Please review!