A/N: Yay! I got more reviews for the last chapter! Confetti falls from the sky Sorry for the late update, but kept saying they were going to do these updates then pushing it back and everything. And I start school in two weeks! sobs But this story should still be updated weekly, because of my loyal and great reviewers! You guys are the ones that keep me motivated, thanks again and don't forget to review!
Disclaimer: C'mon, I have no money, I don't even have enough to get the new DN Angel! Damn you for making me remember that! shakes fist
Yipster54- Oooh, let me tell you, the smallest details can mean the biggest things in mysteries! And you're the only one to say something about the quotes! Thank you!
Lil-saturn-goddess- Is this the longest time since I've updated? GET THE CALANDER PEOPLE, WE'LL CHECK IT! lol, thanks for you continued reviews.
ToTalLy WeIrD Grl aka Redrose Moon- I'm glad you said that's who you were, otherwise I would have had no clue lol. Why the name change? I felt like a total cretin writing Satoshi as a suspect! But c'mon, we all know he didn't do it! And you can trust me on this, because I'M THE AUTHOR! lol.
May- Yay, a new reviewer, hi, I'm the author, kinda crazy, (as if you couldn't already tell) Thank you! I tried hard on Aeris and I really appreciate the compliment on her. I try hard to keep you guys on the edge of your seats, then as gags to make you guys fall out of them. lol, I hope you'll continue to review!
Clarence Hikari- Thanks! I'm really happy you think it's interesting because I like to throw in all sorts of twists and turns.
Hitaru- Another newbie! Hiii! Thanks for reviewing, I love the little faces, for some reason they remind me of hamsters... and who doesn't get happy when they think hamsters? Wait... why do they remind me of hamsters...? Could hamsters be part of why I like ham so much... oh god I'm going to be up all night now lol.
NOTE TO READERS: For those of you who keep coming back and don't leave me lol, I have a question, do you guys like Daisuke and Riku moments? I've been putting in tiny ones and I'm not sure if I should throw in some more into the pot! Tell me what you think, because this is you guy's story too!
"How sad, a girl who can't cry," –Trowa Barton
Part Eight
Satoshi sat on Aeris's sofa while his mind raced. His father had told him that he was the only suspect, and he had quickly gone over the night's events in his head.
He had gone from himself as a suspect to the entire school as one.
The drinks had been lined up on the refreshment table; anyone could have tampered with any one of them.
But that wasn't logical. The person had no way of knowing which drinks Satoshi would take, let alone which drink would be given to Aeris.
Had he been so quick as to slip in the poison while Satoshi was momentarily distracted? But then how had the person known which drink would go to Aeris? They had been drinking the same thing.
Satoshi's eyes widened, his drink had been spilled! Someone had brushed into him, spilling it's contents.
Had the person doused both the drinks, then made sure that he himself would not be poisoned?
Then that narrowed the suspects down to one, the person who had slammed into him.
If only he had some idea of who the hell it was.
Aeris was mad, but mostly at herself. She wasn't healing fast enough.
If she moved too quickly, or stayed on her feet too long, her stomach would violently jerk and she's fight off intense nausea.
And then have to fight off Satoshi's help.
"Your not ready for this, you shouldn't have been released," He grumbled steadying her while he hugged her to him.
"I was just going down the stairs." Aeris mumbled against his chest, feeling defeated and weak. She couldn't even walk down the stairs without the nausea flaring up again.
"Your pushing yourself too far, just take it easy." He said sternly before picking her up and sitting her down on the couch.
"Are there any new leads?" She asked, changing the subject.
"No, not yet." He said carefully sitting down next to her. "But I'll find whoever's responsible. I promise you that."
She nodded before slowly tucking her legs under her body. Her mind had been on the murder, but now... she wasn't sure what she should be focusing on.
And with Satoshi constantly with her, she could hardly look over that file.
"Are you all right?" He broke through her thoughts, looking at her with concern.
"Oh yes, I was just thinking about something." Chuu hopped into her lap. "It's nothing."
Daisuke sighed as he watched Riku kick the soccer ball across the field.
"Ahhh, thinking dirty thoughts are we?" Takeshi said loudly, slapping Daisuke on the back, making him stumble forward.
"What! No I wasn't!" He protested while Takeshi looked over the field.
"Who were you starring at? I don't see Risa on the field." Takeshi blinked a couple of times before squinting again through the window.
"I wasn't starring at anyone!"
Riku swallowed her star fruit. "So when is she coming back to school?"
Satoshi shifted his weight on the bench and took a bite of his sushi. "A couple of days, she gets nauseas so easily."
"Is that what the doctor said?" Daisuke asked, carefully not looking at Riku.
"No, it's what I said." Satoshi said.
Riku frowned at him. "Well when does she want to come back?"
"Tomorrow, but it's too soon."
"And why not?" Riku put down her chopsticks. "I'm sure Aeris knows her limitations."
"That's just it, she knows them, but that doesn't stop her from trying to go beyond them. She needs to take it slow for a while, we don't know what other effects that poison could do to her." Frowning, Satoshi folded his arms. "Aeris is too reckless with her health."
Riku rolled her eyes but decided to let it go, "So it's all right with you if I come over tonight? I figured she could need some company."
Satoshi narrowed his eyes. "I'm company."
"I'm her best friend Satoshi,"
"Oh and what am I, the next door neighbor?"
Daisuke fought down the urge to laugh. "You are her neighbor!"
"Your different Satoshi, you know that." Riku almost kicked herself; she really shouldn't have said that aloud.
"Different, what do you mean different?" Satoshi pressed, Daisuke and him closing in around her so she couldn't get away.
"Uh... well..."
Aeris woke up and quickly found herself alone. "He must've gone to school."
Here was her chance to look over the file!
Slowly she made her way to her dresser and felt along the bottom of the last drawer.
Her eyes widened.
"I can't believe this!"
Someone had stolen the folder!
"How am I different from you?" Satoshi demanded.
Riku may have bad traits, but being slow witted was not one of them.
"Well Satoshi, you are a guy and I am a girl! Girls are closer than male friends." She glared at the two. "Now if you two don't mind, you're a little too close for comfort!"
Daisuke exchanged a look with Satoshi as they leaned back onto the bench. "Why do I get the feeling she's lying?" Daisuke whispered.
"Probably because your right." Satoshi whispered back.
"WHAT ARE YOU TWO WHISPERING ABOUT?!"
"I can't believe this!" Aeris said in disbelief. "That stupid folder's been stolen twice!"
Not able to contain it any longer, she started giggling like mad.
Much like her best friend, she may have bad traits, but stupidity was not one of them.
Aeris had made copies.
One had been hidden in the dresser, another under the mattress, and the final copy was taped to the underside of the table in the kitchen.
But this also raised alarm.
Someone had gotten into her home and stolen it, but why?
Had it been the same person who killed them? If so, why stop with just them? Why not silence her while the person had the chance?
The person couldn't have known that she hadn't already looked over the folder. She was a threat, but the person just took it and ran?
Or did they think she wouldn't find the clue to incriminate them, and snatched it just to be safe?
Aeris ran a hand through her hair in frustration.
She had too many questions and too little answers.
Jin frowned.
There on his kitchen table laid a plain manila folder.
But he knew what it was, he just wanted to know how Aeris got her hands on it!
Hiwatari had confessed that the folder had been stolen, and had guessed that maybe Aeris had a clue as to who had taken it.
But Jin had other thoughts.
There were only two people who wanted a look at that folder.
The person who committed the crime, and his niece, Aeris.
It was logical to say that the person who had done it stole it to destroy whatever evidence Hiwatari had overlooked, however Aeris had been out late one night and he had no clue as to where she went.
She had motive, she had opportunity, and she could do it. But that didn't mean she did it, so instead of confronting her about it, and loosing the fragile trust they had developed... he went through her stuff. (A/N: Yeah, like that idea was better, idiot.)
He felt guilty, until he found the folder in her dresser drawer.
But he wasn't mad, so she had stolen the folder to take a look at it and take matters into her own hands. Hell, he didn't blame her. If he was her he would have done the same thing. (A/N: Still doesn't justify going through her stuff pal,)
And it made her even more innocent of the crime, giving Aeris an edge if they ever found who ever did it and brought them to trial.
If Aeris had done it, wouldn't the smartest and safest thing to do would be to get rid of the only remaining incriminating evidence?
Finally it appeared that luck was going her way.
Riku threw open her duffel bag and begun to toss things right in.
Hairbrush, toothbrush, night gown, clothes for the next day, socks, a deck of cards, poker chips, a bag of all sorts of chocolates, and a pillow.
Aeris needed a good night with her best friend. Give her a chance to really unwind.
And besides, this would help to get Riku's mind off things for at least a little while.
A lot had been plaguing her thoughts lately, besides the obvious (A/N: D-A-I-S-U-K-E!) like the fact that her best friend was almost murdered.
But she couldn't think of any reason why someone would kill Aeris. Jealousy, maybe. But what kind of freak would do that just because Aeris happened to snatch Satoshi?
Well not really snatch, it wasn't official or anything, but c'mon, Stevie Wonder would be able to tell! (A/N: Starts humming My Cherie Amour... Okay, I'll stop, I'll stop!)
She had never seen Satoshi that unruffled before, he'd been in a near panic when Aeris was found on the floor of her home, unconscious.
Besides, she was good for him, she loosened him up. And he just made her happier.
"I wish they'd just get it together... ack, what am I saying? I wish I'd get it together too!"
Slipping the copy from beneath the mattress Aeris smiled; proud of herself for thinking of the what ifs. She opened the folder and- the doorbell rang.
Groaning, Aeris hid the folder and got up to answer it. "This is getting ridiculous,"
To her surprise and delight, it was Riku at the door.
"Hey! I told Satoshi we needed some girl time and he finally gave in," With a grin she set her stuff down and hugged her best friend. "How you feeling?"
"I'm okay, really, I just won't be running anywhere anytime soon." Chuu happily bounced around Riku's feet, glad to see the girl.
"Yeah, Satoshi said you get nauseas easily." Riku patted Chuu on the head.
"He thinks I'll die if I go to school, it's insane!" Aeris complained, "Something is wrong with him."
"Love does make people crazy." Riku said with a straight face before laughing.
"Your crazy, but that reminds me, how are things progressing with Daisuke?"
He nearly choked on his drink when he saw Satoshi going to his own apartment then leaving it- without going to Aeris's.
Satoshi was leaving her unguarded?
Quickly he took out his cell phone and dialed.
"Yes?"
"Sir, Hiwatari's boy has left the girl alone," He whispered into the phone.
"Good! This is our chance, but wait until all's clear before you attack. We don't want any witnesses do you understand?"
"Understood."
"And don't fail this time, I want her head on my desk when I come in tomorrow morning."
"Yes sir."