CHAPTER 7

LATER

Several hours later...

The ship Melon was on had several days left on the water. Inside, Melon was at a table, drinking alcohol, in different clothing than when he boarded. He wore a green t-shirt and blue jeans. A brown hided cow in a red dress was flashing him looks. Melon noticed her and smirked.

"Bad idea, stupid cow." he thought.

She then got up and sat beside him.

"Hey." she said.

"Hey." Melon said with a smile.

"So..." said the cow. "We got about 10 more nights on the water before we reach North America, I guess."

"Yep." said Melon.

"So what are you going for?" asked the cow.

"Sightseeing." said Melon.

"I'd love to kill those nosey bitch right here and right now." Melon thought. "Too bad I've gotta lay low."

"Never been outside of Japan, I take it?" asked the cow.

"No." said Melon. "I love Tokyo, but... I thought I would finally see North America. It gets talked up pretty big from time to time."

"I see." said the cow. "My name is Mary."

"Mel." said Melon. "What you want with a guy like me, anyways?"

"Well..." said Mary. "I figure it'll get boring around here pretty quick. Us bovines can pretty... wild, if you get my meaning."

"And for all you know, you're asking a gay man to sleep with you for 10 days." said Melon.

"Ooohhh... shit." said Mary. "ARE you gay?"

"Pansexual." said Melon.

"What the hell does that mean?" asked Mary.

"Ok, so..." said Melon. "Say for example, I was straight or bisexual. I would say 'Wow, Mary. You're a beautiful woman.'. But I'm pansexual, so I say 'Wow, Mary, you're beautiful.'"

"Soooo... what?" asked Mary.

"I don't care what you are." said Melon. "If we're both in the mood, I'm ok with that."

"So then..." Mary began. "Why bring up the possibility of you being gay?"

"Because." said Melon. "Wouldn't that've been embarrassing if I told you I was after you told me you wanna sleep with me?"

"Not really." said Mary. "If I cared what others thought of me, I'd probably never leave my house."

"Well, I can't say that I don't admire that point of view." said Melon. "Feels intoxicating to be free of other peoples' opinions."

"Did something happen?" asked Mary.

"Yeah." said Melon. "Life is... harder when you're a hybrid." he said and took a drink. "When I was very little, the kids at school called me a monster and a freak. Held me down and beat the shit out of me. One day, I wound up in the hospital."

"I'm so sorry." said Mary.

"You know, now that I think about it, I think I would like some company for the rest of the voyage." said Melon. "You wanna go fuck?"

Mary smirks.

"Oh yeah." she said.

Back at Graywolf Manor, Hikari answered the door. Standing there was Pina and his husband, a stallion with black hide. Both were in black and white tuxedos.

"Ah, Mr. Ramsey." said Hikari. "And..."

"Hiroto." said the stallion and smiled.

"Well, welcome to Graywolf Manor." Hikari said and bowed, and they did the same. "Come."

They came to the kitchen, where Louis and Legoshi are. Louis is still cooking. Hikari looks at Legoshi and smiles.

"Father, this Mr. Pina Ramsey and husband, Hiroto..." said Hikari and looked at Hiroto.

"Ramsey." said Hiroto. "Hiroto's fine."

"Well nice to meet you both." said Legoshi. "I am Legoshi Graywolf, and my husband, who is hard at work at dinner is Louis Graywolf."

"Yes." said Pina. "He and I have already met."

"You know, you look very familiar." Legoshi said to Pina.

"Well..." said Pina. "What would you say if I told you we went to Cherryton together?"

"I would tell you now I know where I've seen you before." said Legoshi and smiled.

"Did you guys used to date?" asked Hiroto.

"That's something I would've remembered." said Legoshi jokingly.

"I will say this though." said Pina. "You were the first guy I had a crush on."

"WHAT." Louis and Hiroto thought at the same time.

"Oh damn, this is gonna get awkward." Legoshi and Hikari thought at the same time.

"Ummm... Fathers?" asked Hikari. "I hope you don't mind, but I'm gonna go to Grandmother's..."

"Nope." said Louis. "I need you to stay."

Hikari sighed.

"Well then..." Hikari thought to himself. "Looks like I'm going to be the calming deer, or I'm going to witness Father Louis strangle Pina to death."

"I didn't mean to..." Pina began, a little nervous. "I... didn't mean to make anyone... jealous."

"As long as you're over him and I don't have to compete with you, I think we'll be fine." said Louis and sat food on the table, then walked back over to the stove.

Legoshi blushed nervously.

"Well, this is fun." he thought.

Hikari sat next to Legoshi and checked his phone, which was on silent.

"What are you doing?" asked Legoshi.

"You remember that girl I told you about whose friend's mother was murdered?" asked Hikari.

"Yeah?" asked Legoshi.

"Her friend sent an audio file that she received from the killer, using the mother's phone." said Hikari.

"Play it." said Louis.

Hikari turned the volume up as loud as his phone can go and played the audio file.

"Your mother's dead, you stupid bitch. I killed her slowly." said Melon on the recording.

Louis turned around quickly, eyes wide.

"That's Melon's voice." he said.

"Damn." said Hikari.

"The file is in our room." said Louis. "You may do what you need to do with it after dinner."

"Alright, but I need to make a real quick phone call." said Hikari.

"Alright." said Louis.

Hikari then got up and left the room, then called the number. Soon enough, a female voice that seemed upset answered the phone.

"Hello?" she asked.

"Hello." said Hikari. "Is this Sarena Gazelle?"

"Yeah?" the female answered.

"I know who your mother's killer is." said Hikari.

"Wait... Really?" asked Sarena.

"Yes." said Hikari. "I'm willing to meet you whenever you want tomorrow."

"Thank you..." said Sarena. "Umm... How does... 12 sound?"

"If you wanna meet at 12, we'll meet at 12." said Hikari.

"Thank you so much." said Sarena. "I'll text you an address."

"Alright." said Hikari. "Hang in there ma'am."

"I'm trying." said Sarena.

"I will see you at 12 then." said Hikari.

"Alright." said Sarena. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye." said Hikari.

A few minutes later, he walked back into the kitchen and sat back down beside Legoshi.

"I will be meeting her at 12 tomorrow to give her information." said Hikari.

"Very good." said Louis. "I'm proud of you, Hikari."

"I know." Hikari said with a smile.