"Police are still searching for clues in the case of a slain local girl," the TV in the store window reports. Outside, lightning snakes down from the sky and rain streams in rivulets down the window. A figure passing by stops and looks at the continuing broadcast. "One week ago, the body of Rika Nonaka, age 14, was discovered in a park, a blanket draped over her body. The police have been unwilling to release any details regarding cause of death, but we will bring you more details as they become available…"

A picture of Rika appears on the screen briefly as the report is being given, and the figure places a hand on the glass as near to it as possible. The picture fades, but the figure lingers in front of the store before passing on. If there had been more souls nearby, they might have noticed that the hand was less than ordinary. They might have noticed that there were only three fingers, or that they were more like claws.

Pulling its coat tighter around its body, the figure continues towards its next location as the rain continues to fall.

Elsewhere, a large group of people is drier than the figure, huddling under several large black umbrellas. Their clothes as well are black, and the mood is quite solemn. All are gathered there to witness the final rites for a young woman taken before her prime. Takato and Henry stand with their families as well as Rika's family. Rumiko, Rika's mother, is sobbing uncontrollably as her mother, Seiko, attempts to give what comfort she can.

"Why…" Rika's mother sobs. "Why did it have to be her? Who could have done this?"

Takato has to forcibly keep himself from shaking, as he wants to tell her the truth that only a few souls, himself and Henry included, knew. More than anything, he wants to tell everybody the whole, terrible truth leading up to Rika's death. He wants to reveal everything about the strange affliction that turned Rika into an uncontrollable huntress, and her subsequent death at the hands of Renamon.

He wants to, but he can't, because he knows little good would come from such an unbelievable tale, no matter how true it may be. He glances over to Henry, and finds himself meeting the other boy's gaze. Takato knows that Henry is feeling much the same way, but he makes no outward showing.

Nodding almost imperceptibly, Henry turns his head back towards the proceedings, and Takato does the same. He scans the faces of the crowd, recognizing many familiar faces, as well as several he does not know. Glancing past these faces, Takato sees something else which peaks his curiosity, namely a figure whose form is obscured in a long coat. A sudden bolt of lighting lights the scene and Takato blinks reflexively. When his eyes focus again, the figure is gone, and Takato shakes his head to clear the image.

The ceremony soon ends, as the coffin is slowly lowered into the grave, and Takato bids one final farewell to the fiercely proud girl he had been honored to call a friend. He only wishes that the secret he holds would be buried with the body. "Rest in peace, Rika."

As Takato leaves with his parents, a voice calls out to them. "Mr. and Mrs. Matsuki?"

"Yes?" Takato's father asks turning around. "Can I help you?"

A tall, lanky man in a black rain slicker runs up to the three of them, feet kicking up water from the ground. His face, if unremarkable, is pleasant enough, though his eyes seem quite piercing. He stops in front of them and bows respectfully. "My name is Detective Moriyuki with the Shinjuku police. I would like to speak with your son Takato. I understand that he was one of Ms. Nonaka's closest friends?"

Takato's dad looks down at him, and Takato nods. "I'll do anything I can to help," he lies. In reality, he had hoped that he would not have to answer any questions, as the majority of the responses he would have to give would be more lies.

"I appreciate it," the detective replies, oblivious. "Come, let's get out of this rain."

Takato, wishing everything would be over as quickly as possible, follows the detective along with his family towards a large meeting hall in the main building. As he enters, he sees that they were not the only ones approached by the detective. In fact, Henry and his parents are there along with Rika's mother and grandmother.

"First of all," the detective announces, "I'd like to extend my deepest condolences on all of your loss. From what I understand, Rika was a fine young lady. Now, as you may be aware, no details have been released so far. Unfortunately, the truth happens to be that we have very few details. As the Nonaka family was informed shortly after the body was discovered, the cause of death was a single knife wound to the heart. We believe the weapon responsible to be a dagger found near her body."

"The problem is that, besides that, we have absolutely nothing to go on. A test of the dagger showed neither finger prints or DNA evidence, nothing. Maybe you can help," the detective tells Takato and Henry. "You were the two closest to her. Can you think of anybody who might have had reason to kill her? Any enemies?"

Henry shakes his head no. "Rika really didn't have any enemies. For that matter, she really didn't have many friends," he says truthfully. "With her, you were either her friend or you weren't."

"Hmm," the detective replies thoughtfully. "Well, does anyone know if she was romantically involved with anybody?"

"Not that she told me," Rumiko answers. "Why do you ask?"

"Well," the detective begins hesitantly, "there was some evidence of recent sexual activity."

Rumiko claps her hand to her mouth to cover a loud gasp. "Y-you don't mean, she…"

"No!" the detective says quickly to allay her fears. "No, there was no evidence of sexual assault. Actually, the evidence seemed to support a consensual same sex lover."

"I… don't know if that's a relief or not," Rumiko manages to say. "I… don't think she would have told me even if she was seeing another girl."

"And you?" the detective asks the boys. "Did she tell you anything about that?"

"No," Takato answers truthfully. "She never told us a thing." Rika had never told them that she was involved with Renamon, but they had managed to find out. Henry nods in agreement.

"Hmmm," the detective repeats his comment from earlier. "Well," he says, getting to his feet. "If you can remember anything- and I do mean anything- that might be of help, contact me." Pulling business cards out of his breast pocket, he hands one to each of the parents. "If anything new comes from our end, we'll let you know. Until then…" He pulls his rain slicker back on, bows slightly and makes his departure.

Takato lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding and watches the man go. His father places a reassuring hand on his shoulder, but it only serves to deepen the guilt he feels inside. A look to Henry, however, and Takato relaxes slightly in response to his friend's clear resolve. "Come on son," his father says. "Let's go home." Takato nods dumbly, but turns at the door.

"I'm glad to have known Rika," Takato says as the first thing that comes to mind. "I'm just sorry that everything ended up this way." Almost immediately, he regrets it, as Rika's mother begins to sob again.