Mysterious Fox

Her smile's mysterious and sarcastic. A perfect mask of emotion. Her dark red hair hangs down her cheeks, showing off every feature in her face. Her violet eyes sparkle in a way that said she knows everything, and yet not a thing. She wears a small winter blue hat. It reminds me of a French painter's hat without the small tail sticking up. Her dark blue jean jacket has a black ruff on the cuffs and neck. As she moves to my desk the black jean mini-skirt was tempting. She sits her purse on my desk.

My name's Dragon. Dragon McCloud. I'm a detective, one of the best in my game. Whose she? Beats me, but she's gorgeous. She sits slowly down in the chair behind my desk. I lean against the window. "Who are you, princess?"

She stares down at my desk, almost sadly. "My name's Fox… Fox Red."

"Fox? I've only heard of one person named Fox, and that was a guy."

She looks up at me. "So?" Her voice is soft and gentle. "I have a case."

I move to her and grin. "Ya know, I didn't train to be a detective so other people could sit in my chair."

Her eyes are enough to make a guy melt. She reaches into the bag she carries. "I have money… plenty of money." She sits a stack of bills at least three inches thick on the desktop. The top bill was a hundred dollar bill. "How much will it cost?"

"I'm good."

"A thousand? Two, three thousand? Name your price."

"What's the case? I can't set prices until I know the crime… or even if I'll do it."

She reaches into her bag and pulls out a picture. She stares at it a moment then lays it face up. It's a jewel, a big tanzanite one, in the shape of a foxes head. "This was stolen from me. It's priceless, thousands of years old, worth millions on it's own. It has been in my family for years."

"I've never-"

"Heard of it? I know. We keep it a secret. Very few people do… my family practically worships it however. It's vital that you get it back for me. Without it my family falls apart. My family falls apart."

"Huh?"

Tai looked up. He found himself staring into violet eyes. "Sammi, you made me mess up."

"Hmm…" She leaned down and kissed his lips softly. "I know." She moved to his side and took a bite of a big cookie. After she swallowed it she asked, "What are you writing?"

"A mystery for my Creative Writing class."

"Need my laptop?"

"That'd be wonderful."

"Want half my cookie?"

"Sure."

She split it in half and gave him the half she hadn't bit off of. "I baked it myself, and it came out surprisingly good."

"Whose idea was it for us to pick each other's classes?"

"Roma's. You and Matt made me take cooking classes."

"Who picked me to go into Creative Writing?"

"Matt, Roma and me…"

"What'd Ant go into?"

"Book keeping."

"Ro?"

"Biology."

"And Matt went into typing, right?"

"Yep… I'll get my laptop for ya." She stood and crossed the room. She came back and handed it to him. "Be careful with it. I have a few files saved to it. It's fast and sensitive. If you click on something it's gonna pop up in a snap… besides that it cost me a cool eight hundred dollars. So break it," She kissed him. "and I start loving you, okay?"

"That no good."

"No, it isn't." She stood. "I'd hate to stay and chat for awhile, but I've gotta jet. I decided to join Drama club and they have a meeting in a little bit." She walked to the door, turned and grinned at Tai. " I hate you."

"And I wouldn't have it any other way, love ya."

"Sure." She disappeared out the door.

Tai grabbed a disk and saved his story to it. He stared at Sam's laptop. "I need one of those…" He started writing on his story again, after deleting the last part.

"Do you have any idea who took it?"

"If I did, would I come to you?"

"Good point. Do you know where it might have been taken?"

She sighs and shakes her head. "I was at Animix… See, my mama's very sick and needs medicine. I was trying to get a job there. I didn't realize how hard a waitress worked until last night. I'm to always wear the amulet around my neck, and never take it off. I'm going off track, aren't I?"

"No, not at all. I'm sure this is all important. Go on."

"Okay… well, you see I was so tired that I just fell asleep on one of the couches there. When I woke it was gone."

"Animix, eh? I'll start my investigation right away."

"Thank you very much… Dragon."

"Take your money. I'm sure you're mother needs it more then me."

She took the stack of money and set it I her bag. "Thank you… keep the picture." She stood. "I must get to work now." She grins. "Maybe I'll see you there."

"Tai!!! You've been on the computer all day. Get off!"

"That doesn't sound right…"

"I said get off, Tai." His sister grumbled. "I need it to, and you've been on all day."

"But, Ro, I'm working' on my story. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have to work on it anyway."

"I need it. Get off."

Tai sighed and saved again. "Fine, I'll just go where I can get some privacy here." He grabbed up the laptop and went upstairs.

He went into the bathroom, sure no one would bother him there. He flipped open the laptop, turned it on and inserted the disk.

"Maybe you will, Princess." She closed the door and it seemed like she floated away.

I go to my chair and flop into it. It seems suspicious to me that she's working at the Animix to get money, and she had all that cash with her. I know she's a client, but already she's a suspect. She could have taken it just to ruin the reputation of Animix, or just maybe this is a scam to get me down there so they can try to kill me… again.

The Animix looks like any other club on the outside. It has a sign written in gold colored letters reading 'Animix'. There are guards, I'm assuming probably gangsters, at the doors. You want in, you show you can pay up front. No money, no entrance. Good idea, honestly.

I pull out my wallet and show it to the guards. It's got money in there, so I just walk right in.

The floors are all hardwood. Probably Oak or some other important type tree. Their tables vary in size. From small, round, one or two people tables, to booths and tables that hold up to nearly 20 people, I'm sure. The lights are dim, but bright enough to show everything in the room.

I walk around to one of the small tables up front. The chair looks fragile, but made of iron. God, I hope it will hold me. I sit, and that's when I see her.

She tosses her blood colored hair back, out of her face, and jots down an order. She's wearing a black mini-skirt with a silver looking chain belt. Her top is black and comes just above her navel. Her shoes are dark blue sandals. She really is quite pretty.

I look around. Lots of people I don't know. There's the owner. He sticks out because of his blond hair, blue eyes, pale skin and slick dressing. His name's Wolf "the Terror" Fang. He's only a few tables away from me. The stick of a sucker sticks out of his mouth, and there are a people around him. Another blond boy, Bear Fang, Wolf's youngest brother, and a girl with bright red hair, Butterfly McCloud, my twin sister. We went our separate ways years ago, though we do talk to each other, it's not like we hate one another.

I wonder what happened to Tiger Fang. The second oldest child in the Fang family. Rumor has it he broke away from his brothers because he couldn't stand the gangster thing. No one knows for sure what happened. I had that case. Me and about five other great detectives. He just disappeared into thin air. Personally I think there was disagreement in the family and someone killed him, but that's just me.

I look back to where Fox was. She's gone. Drat. Oh well. I don't need her right now to solve the crime. I just wanted her to know she was a suspect, along with the Fangs and Miss McCloud… or should I call her Mrs. Fang? My sister did, or nearly did, marry Tiger Fang. I'm not sure if he disappeared before or after the wedding, I wasn't invited.

"Can I take your order, Mr. McCloud?"

I grin. There's Fox. "Yes, you can." I turn to her. "But first, take a seat."

She gets a slightly worried face. "I'm not suppose to sir. Mr. Fang's right over there."

"I'm telling you to. It's not a date. It's a costumer asking an employee to sit, and the costumer's always right."

"Well… I suppose so…" She sits opposite of me. "Have you figured anything out yet?"

"I have suspects."

"Really?"

"Yea, Princess, and you're near the top."

"Me? Why would I steal it? My family needs it to survive."

"Maybe to give this club a bad rep. You have to work here for money, and yet when you came to my office you had a bundle of money."

"That was from the bank. I told my mama and papa what happened and they said to take out a loan for a detective. It's more important then my mama's health." She looked around and lowered her voice. "It's what keeps us alive. Without it we all may die out. The Red's have keep it safe for centuries, and only the eldest daughter can give it's power to it.

There are four different amulets. A tanzanite Fox, a sapphire Wolf, a diamond Panther, and a Zircon Snake. We know who have them all. The Red's had the Fox, the Fang's have the Wolf, the McCloud's have the Panther and the Dove's have the Snake… which is really funny because the eldest daughter is terrified of snakes, and she has to keep it."

"The Fang's have one? They don't have any daughters in that family."

She smiled that sarcastic smile again. "If by chance there is no eldest daughter then the child in the middle would take charge, for they will not be treated as the oldest, nor the youngest. They will be their own, independent person, and Tiger Fang disappeared, so did the Wolf amulet. I think they're all connected somehow."

"You said the McCloud's. We don't have one."

"I said the eldest daughter too, didn't I? Different families have different beliefs. In mine, we worship the Fox, in yours it's keep secrete. If you find out about it, and tell your sister to show it to you, then she has to. It's law. If she doesn't then evil things will start to happen to her."

Then there was pounding, and yelling. "GET OUT! GET OUT!!! I MEAN NOW, TAICHI!!!!!!!!"

Tai blinked. "That's not right…"

"Tai!!"

"Dad? What?!"

"You've been in there for thirty minutes! I need to take a shower, out, now!"

He growled and stood. After hitting the save button he snapped it shut and went to the door. He opened it and looked at his father. I'm working on not failing a class."

"I'm working on not stinking."

With a sigh Tai walked out of the bathroom, down the stairs and outside. "It seems peaceful enough here…" He sat down on the steps of the house, opened the laptop and began to type again, after deleting his father's words.

"What types of evil things?"

"She'll lose her true love… which I suppose she might have already have…but that's just an example. Her health could fall, her beauty become a memory, no longer existing… a lot of different things could happen."

"Why wasn't I told?"

"I don't know. It's not like I keep in touch with other's families."

I nod. "I see…"

She stood. "Is there anything I can get you?.. I really have to get to work."

"Okay… I'd like a Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich… with a glass of Code Red."

She grinned at me. "Sounds yummy." She runs her fingers through my hair for a moment, then turns and skips off.

I stand. It's time to have a little chat with Wolf. I take my trench off and lay it on the chair to mark my table, then I walk to him.

"Wolf, we need to talk."

He looked up at me, his icy eyes dark. "What ya want, Drag?"

"Don't call me Drag. You lost that right along time ago."

He folded his arms. "Why aren't we friends anymore, Drag?"

"I'm a detective… you're a mobster. I don't hang with mobsters."

"Aww, it's just a family business."

"You could stop."

"Yeah, I could, but why should I? To be a traitor like Tiger?"

Butterfly looked away. "Don't call him a traitor."

"He left you, didn't he?"

She stared at him. "I don't think it was purposely."

I stare at her. "I heard about it."

She looked at me. "Heard about what?"

"The Panther."

"Oh… how'd you hear of it?"

"That's why I'm here. Someone stole one of the four amulets."

"That makes two of them then… I guess the last two better be well protected."

"That's the funny thing. I've never heard of the Doves before."

"Don't come here much, do you?"

A voice interrupted the conversation. The voice was scratchy and annoying. "Is everyone having a good time?"

"Is that…?"

"Nah. That's Venus Trap. A real monster. She's workin' here cause she owes me money. I think she'd pay it better by not workin' here. Her voice is killin' my ears." Wolf told me.

"So, I heard of this gal the other day. I'm thinkin' what kind of person is this?" The girl was saying, "Her name's Mourning? I couldn't get over that! What, does she sings songs about sad things? Or just sad dances or what? But I met her a few hours ago. Pretty woman. Now, put your hands together for Miss Mourning Dove!"

Music began to play. The girl with greasy looking hair disappeared backstage. A woman with long beautiful purple hair came onstage. The music is different then I've heard.

"When I gave you my heart

It was not what you wanted

Now the walls say your name

And the pictures are haunted" Her voice is soft and full of attitude, but sorrowfully. She came from the stage. She had a strong, loud voice, and a body to kill for. "Does my ring burn your finger

Did my love weigh you down

Was a promise too much

To keep around"

She sits on one of the tables, teasing the guy. The woman he's with looks annoyed at the man, and envious of Miss Dove. Dove runs her finger down the man's check and gets close to his face. "I remember your words

And I can't keep from crying

I could never believe

That your kisses were lying" She moved from that table and continued walking around. The black dress sparkled as certain lights hit it, and it turned blue or purple in certain places. Not a normal dress.

"Was there something from the past

Buried in a shallow grave

Did you think that it was too far gone to save" She gets back up on the stage. She's a good actress, or she truly feels sad. I'm not sure which.

"Please tell me baby

Please tell me now

You say that I should just go on

Now please tell me how" As she moved it looked like she was walking on a cloud.

I look to Wolf. "Where'd you get her from?"

He glared at me. "Don't think bout it, Drag. She's my fiancé."

"Someone actually gonna marry you? She know bout your… business?"

"Yes."

I look back to her.

"Now it's just me and the night

And I'm so broken hearted I just wait in the dark here

For my dearly departed"

"Hey!!" Tai shouts, as water drips from his head. "Who threw that balloon?!"

There's a laugh from nearby. "Gotcha, Tai!" Says a voice Tai knows only too well.

"Ant, I'm busy! I don't have time to fight!"

"I didn't when you drenched me with the hose either." He stands in front of Tai, arms folded, grin planted firmly in place. "I'm gettin' revenge. What's ya writin' anyways?"

"A mystery."

"You're writin' a mystery?" Ant jumped up on the steps and read the page he was on. "What kind of Bond base is that?"

"It's not a Bond."

Ant's eyes grew wide and he stared at Tai. "Not a Bond? You're not writin' a Bond?" He tumbled down the steps. "My God!"

"What's so surprising?"

"You're obsessed with Bond! I've seen you draw perfect Sean Connery Bonds!"

"Connery was the best one… the original. Original always rules out."

"Sure, Tai… though personally, I like Dracula. Bond kinda… well, bores me."

"Bond boring? You're jokin'… gotta be."

"Sorry, dude… So, you wanna play?"

"I can't. I gotta finish this story for my class."

Ant sighed. "I finished my homework…Bookkeeping? Of all things, you people had to put me in a bookkeeping class?"

Tai shrugged. "Can I finish my story?"

"Sorry… but me, Matt, Cody, and Davis are havin' a water war… We asked your Dad if we could use your yard and he said yeah."

"Fine, I'll go and work on it in your house."

"Go ahead. No one's home… but I think the ghost is in a grumpy mood."

"Yeah, right." He stood and started crossing the yard to the Ishida's. He stood on the porch, staring at the door. He knew of the ghost that apparently haunted the Ishida's house. He'd never seen it or heard it. He reached out to open the door, which flung open and nearly hit him.

"Sorry, Tai!" Matt yelled, running past him, carrying a large water gun.

"It's… okay?"

"Watch out for the ghost!" Matt warned. "It's feelin' mean!" He jumped off the porch and started trying to hit Ant with a beam of water.

Tai sighed and went inside. A chill filled his bones. He closed his eyes for a moment. After looking around he went to the living room and sat on the couch. With a sigh he started typing.

"Does my ring burn your finger

Did my love weigh you down

Was a promise too much

To keep around"

The crowd breaks lose in applause and whistles. I can see why. She's really… I want to say sexy, and has a beautiful voice. If she's the type of person to settle down with I'm not sure. She looks like she could be a challenge for even the best of men.

Wolf grinned. "Until me, her hobby was taking men and breaking them, turning them into crying little baby boys. I've trained her."

"I doubt you could train her."

Fox came to me. "Sir, your order is at your table… or would you like me to bring it to you?"

"Thank you. I'll get to it in a minute."

"Yes sir." She turned and walked off. I couldn't help but watch her every curve as she walked away.

I glance around the table. "I want you all to know that you're suspects in this case."

Miss Dove comes to us and puts her arms around Wolf. "Hello." Her voice was soft and seductive. I'm sure it's not a purposeful thing.

"Hi."

"I'm Mourning Dove. It's nice to meet you…?"

"Dragon McCloud." I point toward Butterfly. "Her brother."

"Pleasure."

I saw it glint. If was a pale blue snake posed ready to strike at any moment. "Are you one of the protectors of the four-"

"Yes. I have the Zircon snake. Hate it…"

"Why? I thought it'd be a privilege."

"It would be… except I'm terrified of snakes and always have been."

"Oh… Can I…?"

"Oh, sure." She took the cord and held it up. It sparkled in the light. She lifted it over her head and hands it to me. "Be careful with it."

I take it and stare at it. It's very pretty. "Thanks." I hand it back to her. "I hope it doesn't disappear as well… and you do know how weird Mourning Fang sounds, right?"

"I don't care. Why should a name matter when love's involved?"

"You're song…"

"The last person I truly cared for dumped me for a woman twice as rich and twice as old as me."

"How old are you?"

"You're getting awful personal."

"I'm going." I turn and walk off.

"GET OUT!!!"

Tai jumps. "I didn't…"

"Get out!!" jumps across the screen again. "GET OUT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Tai jumps up and runs. He slams the door open and jumps past the steps.

"Tai, you look like you just seen a ghost." Davis said, staring at him, water gun posed to hit.

"I saw ghost words."

Matt and Ant looked at each other, then to Tai. "We told ya, he's in a cruel mood."

"Screw this, I'm goin' to the park." He walked off.

Tai found a bench under a tree and sat. He opened the laptop and found the words of 'get out' gone. With a sigh he started typing again.

I sit at my table, where my sandwich has already been delivered. That annoying girl is talking again. "So I said, yeah, and you're Ted Kennedy!" She laughed. "I don't think he seen the sarcasm, but hey, no one's perfect!"

I eat my sandwich. After this I'll have to go to my office and figure this out.

Screams. They fill the air. Then a roar. People come running from the kitchens, white as sheets. Us in the restraint and entertaining part stare. I stand and grab one of the screaming women. "What's wrong?"

"Tiger in the kitchen!" She yelled. "Tiger in the kitchen!" I let her go, and she runs.

I watch the swinging doors. There is no sound, no anything. Then the doors push open. A white tiger stands there. Something doesn't seem right. Why would a tiger wear sapphires?

He steps forward. Slowly he walks through the room, looking for something. He comes to me and stares up. He's wearing the Sapphire Wolf, and I only know one person with eyes that shade of blue.

He moves past me to the table Wolf sits at. I watch him stare at Roma. He looks almost hurt. He rubs against her legs, like a big domestic cat, then jumps onto the table and gets face to face to Wolf.

The two stare into each others eyes. "I didn't think you could change forms."

The black stripes began to grow, covering his body, and the fur turned into hair that hung to the mid-back. Now a man wearing a black jacket and jeans was crouched on the table. "You'd be surprised what you can do when your life depends on it."

"You've said since you were a kid you were ready to die."

"That was before I fell in love with Butterfly."

I move to the happily united family. Note the sarcasm if you will. "I thought you were dead." Looking close I can see marks. They're on his hands, forehead and jacket.

"So did I." He said, turning those frozen sapphire eyes to me. "But I lived. I honestly don't believe in the family business. It's not even a business." Though his voice was harsh, it was edged in laughter. He looked back to Wolf. "Kill the business. People want you dead."

"I know. I've known it for awhile."

"These people are worse. They kill in cruel and unusual ways. They start with the ones you care for. They lock you up for days, never letting you out to see anything, but feed you. Then that stops. I'm not sure after that, but they want you."

"I'm not closing the business."

"When tiger verses wolf who wins? The tiger, true ruler of the jungle, or the wolf, terror of the forest? I don't want you hurt, Wolf, because they'll only start with you. It goes down the line. They'll take Miss Dove there and make you watch as they torture her, nearly killing her from beatings. So if you don't want to protect yourself at least think of everyone else. Break relations, disappear."

"I'm ready for them, brother."

Bear looked at Tiger. "You didn't die?"

Tiger moved to Bear quickly staring him in the face. "I know what you've been doing." He whispered something to Bear. I don't know what it is, but Bear pales to the color of his brothers and backs up.

"How did you-"

Tiger jumps off the tables. "I know things. I'm good, not stupid." He turned and looked to me. "Solve this, I know you can. It's right under your nose, you just have to look." He went to Butterfly and embraced her. "I love you B… but you know as well as me, if I stay Wolf's gonna keep up business and I can't stand all of it."

She stroked his hair. "I love you…"

He gave her a brief kiss, let her go and stood. He swept the room with a glance. "This is the only part of business I don't mind." With that he began to change. His hair started to turn white and cover his body, steaks of black stripes running through it. In a matter of moments the tiger stood. After giving Butterfly a longing look he ran out of the club.

Tai grinned, happy with his story. "Now… all I need is a way to end it… who stole it? Who tried to have Tiger kil- I know! I know how to end it!"

I study the scene. Tiger wants me to solve this. So I was wrong. Wolf didn't want Tiger dead. Wolf just wanted Tiger to change forms. Obviously he knew of the Sapphire Wolf, and wasn't jealous. Miss Dove. There's just something… different about her, and Butterfly! But… why would she want Tiger dead? And she'd know about the amulets. But there is Bear… but Bear never did anything to hurt anyone. Out of the whole family he's the most good one. This is difficult.

I examine the room carefully, having Miss Red show me the place she'd awoke and the fox was missing.

"See, I was so tired last night that I just dropped off here… but when I woke up my Fox was gone." She had her hair tied to the back of her head, so hair wouldn't fall into anything.

I pull out a magnifying glass and look around. Just a small clue can set off an entire case. I pick off a hair from the couch. "You said you'd fallen asleep here?"

"Yes."

I study the hair. This is definitely a clue. "Was there any kind of scent when you woke?'

"Yes, actually there was. I smelled some kind of… cologne. I'm sure it's a very rare scent… I only smelled it one other time in my life, and that was when I was in for my interview."

"Did Wolf interview you?"

"No… but it was a Fang." She smiled. "He seemed very interested in the Fox… he said his family had one too… but the holder disappeared. He gave me a weird sort of smile and told me I was hired."

"Sounds innocent enough." I had what I needed. Fang did it. It doesn't matter what anyone says, he did it. Wolf is going to have my head on a silver platter, but he did it.

Tai jumped, snapping the laptop shut. Something had clamped onto his leg. He stared down. He was staring down into one green eye, and one violet one. It was the biggest head that went to the biggest dog anyone had ever seen. He let his eyes wonder up, where he saw his red-headed sister clinging onto the dog's fur.

"Thank you SOOOO much for being there, Tai!! I went outside and Ajax just ran through my legs and carried me away!"

Ant showed up a few seconds later panting and carrying a leather and chained leash.. "I'm… so… sorry, Ro. He must have broke his chain again!"

"It's okay, no harm done."

Matt, Cody, and Davis show up. "Did he break my squirt gun?" Davis asked. "Did he?"

Roma climbed down and picked up Davis' squirt gun. "No…" She held it gingerly. "But it's a little drolly now."

"Awww man…" Davis said, taking it.

"Ant, Ajax has escaped three times this week! And it's only Wednesday!" Matt pointed out.

"I call him Ajax the Great for a reason ya know! He's huge and strong!"

"He's as big as a pony!"

"He's still got my leg!" Tai shouted.

"Sorry!" Ant knelt down and took the dog's head in his hands. "Let go, A-bud." The dog listened, letting Tai's leg go.

Roma read over Tai's shoulder. "You're story sounds good, Tai. Can I read it?"

"Maybe when it's done…"

Ant mounted Ajax and hooked the leash to his huge collar. "You guys can go back and finish the war… I'm gonna take Ajax for a walk…"

"You really should have him put down."

"Or trained." Cody chimed in. "Take him to obedience school."

"I did. He was first in his class, he just keeps getting off his chain. He's a big-"

"Huge."

"dog, and people are a little… intimidated by him."

"Hey, I'll have my story finished in a little bit, alright? If you all go away I can finish it, then you can read it. I have… most of you in it in some form."

Ant sighed. "I hate bein' the bad guy!"

"Oh, but I love bein' the good dude." Matt grinned.

Tai smiled. "Sorry, Ant, but you make such a good bad guy. You're just so… multidimensional. Can't you even do the Joker laugh?"

"…. Yes, I can." Ant rode to Roma and put his arm around Roma and pulled her to him. "And she's my Harley… but I really care for her."

Tai smiled. "I know."

Roma leaned into Ant. "I don't know if I really care for bein' called Harley."

"It's just a figure of speech, Twinkle Toes."

"Can I finish my story? I'm running out of places to hide here." He stood and started away.

He ended up at the local hangout. Mert's Place. It was an upbeat spot, where people liked to chill out. He found an empty table and sat. "Let me see… What's happened in the old mysteries?.. Oh! I know!"

They're all here, in one room. Wolf, sucking on his trademark sucker, Butterfly, looking almost sad, Mourning Dove, sitting in a chair, utterly confused about being here, Bear, looking cool and relaxed, and Fox, sitting on the floor wondering what's going on.

"I've called you all here because one of you is a thief and an attempted murderer."

"Who?" Wolf asked, sounding less then amused. "Whose an attempted murderer? Murder is wrong, no matter how it's put."

"Wolf, you're a mobster."

"Yeah, but I ain't no dissin' murderer. That ain't in the family business, just stealing, gambling and ripping people off."

"Someone tried to have Tiger murdered. If you'd looked closely you would have seen that their were cut marks on his hands, one about two and a half inches from his ear to his forehead, and that his beloved black jacket had a few slash marks through it. You know as well as I, he wouldn't let anything happen to it."

"Because I gave it to him…" Butterfly said.

"Bingo." I look at the suspects.

"So, who did it, or should I just tell you all?"

Wolf stood. "I didn't do. Why would I kill my brother?"

I look to him. "Simple, he wouldn't bother with your family business. He thought it was disgusting and sick. Now, take a seat."

He dealt me a glare that would make a slug run off at super speeds, but sat with his arms folded.

"I didn't know Tiger very well." Miss Dove said quietly.

"True, but you did know that he was the best at everything. He made Wolf nervous, and you didn't want anything to happen to Wolf. If Tiger wanted he could close down the business. So why not kill him?"

"I didn't…" She stared at the floor.

"Butterfly, wasn't it rumor that Tiger was seeing another gal?" She nodded, tears in her eyes. "You wanted to make sure he never would again, so you tried to kill him."

"I loved him!" She shouted.

"Don't you know it's rude to make ladies cry?" Wolf asked. "Even if they are your sister?"

I regard him with a look and move on. "Miss Red… You just got here not to long ago, correct?"

She nods. "True."

"Had you ever meet Tiger Fang?"

"No…"

I look to Wolf. "Has she?"

"Not to my knowledge. She came here a week after he disappeared."

"Yes… a week. Coincidence? Could be, or maybe she was sent here to watch everyone, and make sure no one figured out who had him murdered. Maybe she called me here to watch me as well."

"I would never!"

"Then there's Bear." I turn to him. "No major crimes, except being related to Wolf… But, Bear wanted to be the leader of the Fang family. Eliminate one at a time and he could."

"Why would I do something so… cruel? Murder isn't in the business."

I smile and move to the center of the room. "Only one of you stole anything, and the same one tried to get Tiger murdered. After doing a little talking to some people on a phone I figured out that the four pendants were split to different families for a reason. If any one person, or family, had them all then terrible things could happen. That family would rule the world, but if one person posses them all, then the world could be destroyed. Any wishes could come true… someone could rebuild the earth from scratch, to their liking. First they tried for the wolf pendant. Tiger escaped with his life and the sapphire, this angered the person. Then Wolf started to date someone else with a pendant. Wonderful, that made it easier, but Tiger had already been dating someone. That person's next. Then, miss Red came. She had another. All four are here and he wants them all…even if he has to kill for them."

"So… Butterfly, Fox and I are all in danger?" Mourning asked.

I nod. "Very much in danger."

"There's only three he's." Bear points out. "My brother, you and me."

"Correct. Three males are here, one of us is a thief and attempted murderer."

"Who is it?" Wolf asks.

I look to him. "You should know."

"You aren't suggesting I did it!"

"No, I'm not. I know who did. It wasn't me, because the culprit had blond hair. Blond, smooth, ungelled hair."

"The only one in here like that is Bear."

"Exactly. Bear was always the good one, while Tiger and Wolf always ran around getting in trouble. He was often overlooked. He knew about Tiger's gift of the Sapphire wolf, and it annoyed him. He was the good one, while the worst behaved got it. He realized if he could get all four of the pendants he could start it all over again, rebuild this world. He could make sure he got the pendant instead of his stupid brother. After he realized that Mourning had one he wanted that one, he needed it, so he tried, several times. A few times he tried to seduce her, but it failed because she only cared for Wolf. He tried before the show tonight, but it failed again. On the other hand, he did get the Fox, which I'm willing to bet he has with him right now." I turn to him. "Am I right?"

He glares at me. "You can't prove any of it." He stands.

"But I can. You were disturbed by what Tiger had told you tonight, why else would you be disturbed unless he knew it was you that tried to kill him, and it was your hair that I found where the Fox was stolen, and it was you who interviewed Fox and gave her a job."

He pulled a gun from the waist band of his pants. He searched frantically with his eyes for a place to hide, or get away. Suddenly he fired, barely missing me and hitting the switch box. The lights flickered out, nothing could be heard, but running footsteps.

Then there was a scream, followed by a gasp. Then there were running feet again.

"Wolf, is there a flashlight here?"

"A flashlight?! Only in the kitchen. Who screamed?" No one answered. The lights flickered back on. "Good thing I ordered that generator…"

Mourning was sitting on the floor, with her hand where the Snake should be. "He took it…" She stared up at his. "He nearly strangled me trying to get it…"

Butterfly was pale as she stared into space. "He got the panther, and he said he already had the wolf… and that he'd killed my Tiger about forty minutes ago."

I ran where the footsteps had led, until I reached the outside. There's no telling where he went out here. I look around, but don't see Bear anywhere. I growl and walk back inside. "I lost him." I tell everyone.

Mourning was in a chair now, looking near tears, while Butterfly was looking worried and confused. I sit on the couch, next to Fox. "He doesn't have them all." She says out of no where.

"How do you know?"

"The Wolf… I don't know Tiger, but he seems resourceful, and no one would kill a tiger in the city and live to tell of it… besides, it would be all over the news."

"Point…"

Wolf walks back in, holding two glasses. He smiles faintly and sits the glasses in front of the two girls. "Drink this…"

The two ask no questions and drink. Then there's a growl, followed up by a "I'm going!"

A few seconds later Bear walked in, followed by the white tiger, whose holding two of the jeweled pendants. He sits in a chair. The tiger sits the pendants on the ground and changes. Tiger crouches there. He picks them up and stands. "I can't believe Bear could stoop that low…" He looks to me. "Thank you." He moves to the girls and sits the snake in front of Mourning. "Here." He goes to Butterfly and stares at her.

She reaches out and grabs him, yanking him down to her. He wraps his arms around her. "I love you, Twinkle Toes."

"I love you too."

He pulls away from her and slips the pedant over her head. "If we merry… then all the pendants but one will be in the same family… that is… if Wolf and Mourning merry too."

"There's still one that won't be."

He puts his arms around her body gingerly, as if afraid he'd break her. "Good."

Fox stood. "Where's mine?" She looked scared.

Tiger looked at her. "I honestly don't know. I didn't look over him, I just took what was in his hands."

I go to Bear. "Hand it over."

"No."

"You only have one. It won't do you any good."

"Yes it will. Each has a different power. The Fox controls the peace and destruction of earth." He smiled.

"I want that Fox." Miss Red said walking towards him.

"You'll have to fight me for it."

She showed her teeth, angry at Bear. Then she started to change. Her mouth grew into a muzzle and her hair grew into fur and covered her body. She shrunk, until only a fox stood, with its teeth showing. She ran up his leg and started ruffling through his pockets. He grabbed at her.

I pulled a gun and put it to his forehead. "Don't touch her."

Finally she stopped and ran out. She sat on the floor, tossed the pendant into the air and caught in on her neck. She stood and started walking out. I went to her and picked her up. "Where you going?"

I went and sat her on the couch. She changed back to human. "I'm going home… my Mama needs me, and I have enough money to help now…"

A man ran in. He was shorter then me, with red hair and green eyes. "Foxy," He said. He stared at her sadly. "You're Mother's dead. She said that Fox was returned and died."

She looked like her world was falling apart. She reached around me and cried.

XXXXXX

I went to the funeral with Fox. She was grateful for it. I found out that the man was her father, and he could turn into a Greyhound, and only lived a few blocks away. Not long after that we started going out. I finally figured out that there's more to life then a paycheck and being enemies with your former best friend.

The End

Tai grinned. He finished his story, he was happy about it, and he loved it. He stood and went home. He found everyone at his house, watching T.V. He raised an eyebrow. "Afraid to go home?" he asked the Ishida's.

All three of them looked at him and answered, "Yes. Our Mom's mad and scared our ghost."

"That's bad."

"Yes."

"Hey, I finished my story…"

"Cool." Came six voices.

"Yes, very cool."

"Read it to us." Sin told him.

Tai sighed and read it.

When he finished everyone was surprised. "I was a good guy?" Ant asked. "You made me a good guy instead of an evil one?" He stared at Tai in shock, which Tai tallied him in his head.

"I was a main!" TK said happily. "A main… wait! I was the main bad guy!" He gave Tai a look that can't be described.

"I sucked a sucker through like… most of it." Matt gave Tai the same look. Tai added two to his list.

"Butterfly?" Roma asked. "You named me butterfly!" She gave him another look.

"I couldn't think of anything else!"

"I thought it was good." Sam told him.

"Thank you." He said.

The End

(Really)