Author's Note: And now we focus on Taro. I have so many ideas for him. I enjoyed writing his narration. I am going to have to go back to that again. I realize that I have so much that I have to explore in this series. I am going to have to try something next season. (That's right, there is going to be a season twelve. We're still playing a game here.) Anyway, I have a little bit of the Christmas special in mind. I have the next three weeks mapped out in my head. I have so much to tell with this story. For now, enjoy this week's halo.

Halo Seventeen: Taro:

-Taro-

In five days, somebody is going to die. Okay, there are going to be a couple more people who will also die before then. Somebody will die in five days. But we have to back up before that.

The body found in Ikebukuro West Park has been identified as Fukuzawa Kotoko. Killed for blasphemy in the DK's quest to fulfill her duty. (Yes, it's a she. But I'm not going to tell you how I know. I digress.) Her cult's not going to be happy about that.

Anyway, Detective Nakamura has been hard at work trying to catch her. He's studying Dante's Inferno to get a feel for what her next move is going to be.

Kota looked at all of his notes and pictures on his desk.

Limbo= Awakusu-san's wife (Still in a coma. The doctors can't figure out why she won't wake up. Her body is healthy but she's not waking up.)

Lust= Mirai, sex worker in Kabukicho

Gluttony= Body positive Youtuber

Greed= Nishino-san, CEO of a tech company

Wrath= Old woman identified as Noto Gin

Hersey= Murata Kichizo, former cult leader of Asahara

Violence= Izumii Ran (Against others), Imai Chinatsu (Against self), and Fukuzawa Kotoko (Blasphemy)

Nine victims so far. Who was going to be number ten? Nakamura has a clue.

"What'cha doing now?" a voice asked behind him. The detective looked over his shoulder to Sachiko standing inches away from him.

"Oh, it's you," Kota said. She tried to look over at his computer screen. He turned his head.

"Oh, this?" he asked. "Are there any gay clubs and drag bars in Ikebukuro?" Sachiko tilted her head.

"Huh?" she asked.

"Well, the Dante Killer just finished blasphemy," he said. "The next circle is sodomy. So I figured…"

"You would track the killer around gay clubs and bars?" Sachiko finished.

"Yeah," Kota said.

"You going to scout places or something?" she asked. The other detective shrugged.

"It's a start," he said. He leaned forward in his chair.

"And what about you?" he asked.

"Huh?" Sachiko asked.

"Your case," Kota said. "How is that going?"

"Oh, that. It's coming along nicely," she said. "I think I see a pattern."

"Oh?" he asked.

"The first victim had yen bills stuffed in her mouth and yen coins filled in her body, yes?" Sachiko asked.

"Yes," Nakamura said.

"Next was that hotel couple. Then there were the Asanuma boys," she said. She looked up at him as if to wait for a response. Nakamura shrugged.

"What do you want me to say?" he asked.

"I think they are connected somehow," she said. The detective look around for a moment before she leaned in close.

"My killer might be like yours," she said. Nakamura gave her an odd look.

"Are you saying they are the same guy?" he asked. The other detective shook her head.

"No, nothing like that," she said. "They are similar but not the same. Do you see what I am saying?" He blinked at her for a moment.

"I guess…" he said.

"So far, I have greed, thou shall not commit adultery, and honor thy mother and father," Sachiko said. Nakamura looked confused.

"How do they connect?" he asked. "Two of them are the Ten Commandments. How does greed fit in with all of this? And how did you come to all of this?"

"Call it a hunch," was all she said.

I think I like her.

Meanwhile, DK is at home. She's just taking it easy. She's just come back from a fresh kill three days ago. Now, she's not so angry or annoyed anymore. She scrolled through her phone and smiled. I have a guess at what she was looking at. DK already knows what she is doing next.

Now, DK isn't homophobic but she has to follow her calling card. She's going to have to find a way to make it work. I know she will. For now, she's too relaxed. Besides, she's laying low for a bit.

Personally, I think she needs to get angry again.

Oh. What's going on over here?

Kine doesn't seem to know what to do. The little girl at his table was stuffing food into her mouth. He found her alone in the street holding her right eye in pain.

"Hey, kid! Are you okay?" Kine asked when he got closer. He placed his hand on her shoulder. The little girl whipped around. The look on her face made Kine stumble backward. Her face looked so familiar.

Now, this child was here in his apartment with him. Something about was rather… off.

"What is your name?" Kine asked. The child didn't answer.

"Where did you come from?" he asked. No answer.

"Where are your parents?" he asked. No answer. She didn't even look up at him. Kine frowned. It wasn't a good idea to have a strange child around his place. Maybe he could pass her off as a niece or a cousin for now. Then what?

It was then he noticed the little girl was staring at him. Kine waited for her to say something. It was then he noticed something about the child's face. Something about her looked so familiar. Especially her right eye.

"Say, what happened to your eye?" Kine asked. He ran his finger down his right eye. The little girl paused. She touched where her right was supposed to be. Kine started to put together a hunch in his head before shaking it off.

Such a thing couldn't be possible, right?

If you ask me, I think she has to go.

What's going on over here?

It looks like there might be some Great Beast trouble.

-November 1st, 2015-

2:00 a.m.

The pirate, the bunny, and Goku escaped to the police station unharmed. Now, a police officer narrowed his eyes at them.

"Now let me get this straight," he said. "The three of you were out bar hopping on Halloween. Then you came across a Bull Man. One of you tried to approach him when her cell phone rang. Then this Bull Man chased you all the way here. Is that correct?"

"Yes," the pirate said. The cop looked at them like they were crazy.

"Have much have you had to drink tonight?" he asked.

"Seriously?!" the bunny shouted. "Why would make this up?!" The pirate put his hand on his girlfriend's shoulder.

"Calm down, Aiko," he said. She jerked her shoulder away. The cop put up his hand.

"Okay, okay," he said. "I'll believe you. And you're sure that it wasn't a man with a bull head on his head?"

"I don't know!" Goku said. "It scared the fuck out of us!" The cop took down the notes. He still didn't really believe them but he had to do his job.

-November 8th, 2015-

BREAKING NEWS: Police are on the look for a man dressed like a bartender with a bull head on his head. Three witnesses say that the man tried to attack them on Halloween night. If you have any information about this man, please contact the police.

By the time Tom saw the news, he knew that he had to find Shizuo.

And this is where I come in.

My brother and sister have their horses now. I can't take my eyes off them. Yuuko's horse has the fire burning underneath its armored body. Ryota's horse has this beautiful green miasma seeping out of its body. I swallowed back my drool.

"Can I pet them?" I asked.

"Sure," Ryota said with a shrug. I walked up and patted his horse on the nose. I shivered at the touch.

"Ooo!" I said. I had to force myself to pull back my hand. Yuuko cocked her head to the side.

"When are you getting your horses?" she asked. Kaori and I looked at each other.

"Soon," Kaori said. I could tell that she wanted her horse now. I closed my fists by my sides.

"I think…" I said. All eyes fell on me. I lifted my chin.

"I think I can hear my horse," I admitted. My sisters and brother looked at me.

"You sure?" Yuuko asked. I nodded once. Kaori smacked me on the back.

"Aw, don't worry, little brother," she said. "He'll be here soon." I forced myself to smile as I nodded.

However, I have a little secret that my brother and sisters don't know. Or rather, they don't remember. I will get into that later. But for now, let's see what else is going on.

Oh! Let's see what little Chirin-kun is up to today.

Mikado walked up to Akari's door and knocked. His heart raced against his chest when the door opened. Akari didn't have to say anything to know what was wrong.

"How bad is it?" she asked. Mikado couldn't look her in the eye.

"Really bad," he said. "I... I…" She put her hand on his shoulder.

"Just come inside, okay?" Akari whispered. The witch pulled him inside before he could say a word.

Mikado sat on the floor in the middle of her room. Akari sat down in front of him.

"Tell me everything that happened," she said. Mikado took in a breath and started talking.

"I messed up," he said. "I gave in." He kept going when she didn't speak.

"I went over to her place on her birthday," Mikado said. "We talked for a bit and then… and then…"

"Did you take the pheromone blocker?" she asked. He shook his head. Akari threw back her head and groaned.

"Mikado!" she shouted.

"I know!" he said. "I was going to take it but she stopped me!" Akari rubbed her forehead.

"And there was no condom use, right?" she asked. Mikado shook his head.

"Please tell me she's still on the pill," Akari said.

"Yes," he said. Both knew that was little comfort though. Mikado's hands trembled in his lap.

"I don't know what to do," he said. "I don't want her to die again." His eyes welled up with tears.

"Anri-chan is going to die and it's all my fault. It's all my fault," he said in a trembling voice. Akari clicked her tongue. A slap echoed in the room. Mikado stared at her stunned. The witch glared at him.

"Boy, if you don't stop crying and feeling sorry for yourself!" she snapped.

"But…" he said.

"You say many times that you rely on numbers! Why not do it again?" the witch said. "You have the knowledge about what's going to happen next! You can change things!" Mikado stared at her with a sense of clarity.

"You're right. You're right," he said. They sat across from each other silent for a moment. Akari pressed her lips together as she tried not to look into his eyes.

"Be honest with me," she said. "Did you take the pheromone blocker today?"

"Yes," Mikado said. The witch took in a slow breath.

"Okay," she said. She could feel her heart racing against her chest. Akari gulped as she fought to keep her composure. Suddenly, Mikado leaned in and kissed her on the lips. Akari froze as her eyes widened.

Twenty seconds.

That's how long it took. But it didn't feel like it. That kiss seemed to drag on forever. Akari tried to get her bearings. Her head felt like it was swimming. What the hell was happening? Mikado finally pulled away. The witch stared at him wide-eyed.

"What did you do that for?" she asked.

"I was trying to calm you down," he said. The tadpole frowned.

"Did I act out of line?" he asked. Akari cleared her throat as she looked away.

"No," she said. "Thank you for that." The witch stood up and walked into her kitchen. She looked over her shoulder.

"Stay put!" Akari snapped. Mikado kept his mouth shut.

Aw, come on, girl. You know you love him. I have seen the way you look at Chirin-kun. We all have seen the way you look at him. You're already going to have sex with him. Why resist? We know it's coming. You're another notch on his bedpost.

But that's not 'til later!

Let's see what's going on over here. Oh, it's Michiko! Let's see what she's up to.

Michiko stood in front of Masaomi's door. She hadn't seen him in days. Something inside of her wouldn't let her leave him alone. The girl took in a breath and knocked on the door. She stepped back when it opened. Masaomi stood in the doorway with a tired look on his face. He only had on pajama bottoms and a white tank shirt. Michiko gave him a strange look.

"Masaomi… -kun?" she asked.

"Oh, it's you," he said. He gave her a little smile.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. Michiko lifted her chin.

"I came by to see you," she said.

"Oh. Cool," he said. The girl followed him into the apartment as she tried to tell herself it might not be as bad as it looks.

"How have you been?" she asked.

"Fine," Masaomi said. "I'm fine." Michiko sat down on the couch and frowned. Masaomi sat across from her on a chair.

"You look tired," Michiko said.

"Well, I haven't really been sleeping well," he said. The girl made a concerned look on her face.

"When was the last time you talked to Anri or Mikado?" she asked. Masaomi took a moment to think.

"I don't know," he said. "Before Halloween maybe. Why?" Michiko was about to speak when she heard footsteps coming down the hall. She and Masaomi looked up to see around girl about sixteen years old straightening her black sweater. Her brown jeans weren't zipped up.

"So this is where you went," she said with a yawn. "Why didn't you tell me you going to get up before me?"

"Oh. Sorry about that…" Masaomi said. He froze for a moment.

"Oh… Um… What's your name again?" he asked. The girl tilted her head to the side.

"Kayo," she said. "Remember."

"Whatever," Masaomi muttered as he waved her off. Kayo wrinkled her nose as she frowned. She turned and walked out the door. Michiko had a sour feeling in her stomach.

"Oh. I didn't know you had a visitor over," she said.

"Her? Nah, it's fine," Masaomi said. "I met her at a karaoke bar last night. She was cute." Michiko gave him a confused look.

"Why were you there last night?" she asked. The former shogun shrugged.

"I was bored," he said. He said it like it was nothing. Michiko could feel the worry building up in her soul. She needed to talk to his friends ASAP.

Uh-oh! Looks like it's worse than she thought! This should be interesting to see how this plays out.

Now we come back to me.

I stood up from the lab table. My siblings looked over at me.

"Can you hear it?" Kaori asked.

"Yeah," I said. I walked out of the lab without looking behind.

"Good luck!" Yuuko called after me before the door slid shut.

-December 15, 2015-

Saitama.

A phone started buzzing on the nightstand. Chikage turned over in his bed.

"Is that yours or mine?" he mumbled half-asleep.

"I don't know," Non said back. The phone kept buzzing again.

"I think that's yours," she said. Her boyfriend lifted his head.

"Huh?" the gang leader asked. Chikage looked around in the dark before grabbing his phone from the nightstand. He looked at the screen and paused.

"What is it?" Non asked. Chikage was about to speak when another phone rang. The couple sat up to see Kohaku standing in the doorway, holding her phone.

"You get the call too, didn't you?" she asked.