A/N Hello everyone, I understand its been about a month since I've last updated. Its been a pretty rough few weeks. What was supposed to be a moment a of joy had turn into tragedy and a young member of my family passed away. It still hurts even a few weeks later and to be honest the story just wasn't on my mind for awhile until I saw how much time had passed. This is a shorter chapter than usual. I probably rewrote this 4-5 times from my notes but nothing felt right.

I hope you all continue to enjoy the story.

Chapter 35

Akechi had memorized the layout of the Okumura mansion by now. All the entrances and exits, he would know if something was amiss. The young Detective had made his way through the 2nd floor where he and Sae stayed. Knocking twice, he heard a voice from beyond the door.

"Come in," Sae said from the other side.

Letting himself in, Akechi could see the elder Niijima frustrated over a pile of papers on the desk.

"Careful there Miss Niijima, stress can ruin the face of beauty."

"I don't need to hear that from you. I'm already dealing with competence idiots," She complained.

"I take it your trips to the local station hasn't fared well?" Slamming the folder she was trying to read down, she rubbed her tired eyes.

"The Captain assigned me this mission to track and prosecute the local outlaws in this area. But when I ask for the files at the station they looked at me like I was a fool. I've prosecuted every target that came across my path, I won't quit now."

"I see. At least you won't have to worry about security for the upcoming Gala. Working with them has been quite troublesome."

"I take it Okumura is not co-operating?" she ask the Detective.

"Oh, he's co-operating in his own way, if I do say so myself. Though I don't know who has caused a bigger pain, Okumura or the gaudy Sugimura."

Sae had let out a scoff over her partner's misfortune, "Captain really sent us to a dump."

Akechi stood nearby with his arms cross in thought regarding her statement," Niijima, do you think the Captain has been acting odd lately?" He asked her.

"Odd? What do you mean?"

"The Captain has been off lately. I've been trying to get to the conclusion of my case but information has been missing or withheld. Denied of investigating further witnesses. Why now, why this case?" Akechi was at a dead end and frustrated, his list of those to trust was getting very slim.

"I wouldn't say your reaching, you've tackled difficult cases before. Perhaps you should like looking for a new angle," Sae offered him before going back to her own notes.

All of his witnesses were gone, the connection to this case blocked, where else could he look? He reviewed the notes in his head over and over again maybe he is missing something. He walks onto Sae's balcony in thought. Kobayakawa, Kamoshida, Madarame, and Kaneshiro were all connected and all dead. Ren Amamiya has interacted with 3 of the 4 for a reason. The ace Detective was so busy chasing him that he didn't think to question him. Not as an outlaw being interrogated but as a witness to a crime committed.

The only problem was the thief could've been anywhere in the country by now. Amamiya was Akechi's last living connecting to finding the truth. To see what his Captain is trying to hide from him. He can't telegram headquarters to send a cease Wanted alert. Knowing the higher-ups that would put a bigger target on his back.

He continued to pace, he can't trust the Captain, or Loki, hell Sae may be doubtful. But he needs to be careful around Okumura and his men. The man IS a big benefactor to SIU finances, he would be watched. Akechi needs to be cautious wherever he goes from now on. This is becoming much bigger than he ever realized.

Present Day 1885

It was another humid day as the sun bared straight down on the three men. Ren, Yusuke, and Ryuji were camped out on the roof of a nearby building peering down on their target location.

"We have three floors to work with, that might be a side entrance there. Can't tell much towards the back of the mansion, the foliage is blocking the view. Looks like the balcony reaches around the entire floor, excluded the pair of steps on the left that's leading to the back lower balcony. That's probably where most of the party will be," Ren described passing his binoculars to Yusuke. The other man had some sheets and charcoal with him.

"Hmm, quite exquisite architecture."

"Focus Fox," Ryuji complained.

"Just one moment." The artist took a thorough look at the mansion a few blocks away. This was the tallest building they could find that faced Okumura's mansion with other any other obstructions.

"According to Mr. M's information, neighbors stated guests tend to stay on the second floor during all visits. There's a door just below the second balcony, that may be an entrance to the kitchen or servant area. Compositions like this would have back pathways out of view of normal people. It helps make the premise presentation look grander," Yusuke observed.

"What makes you said that?" Ryuji questioned back.

"There's a chimney…..and it's smoking." He passes the binoculars to Ryuji as he starts on his own sketch of the exterior layer.

"Any important information would be in an office yeah."

"Right Skull. While I want to say it normally would be on the first floor, he probably wants his files closer. Thus the 3rd floor would be our main area of searching."

Ryuji took a look at it himself around the balconies when something caught his eye. "Uh Joker, you might wanna take a look at this." He hands the viewing device back over.

Taking a peek at the blonde's concern, he knew things for them wouldn't go as smoothly as they hoped, "Shit…."

Standing in thought on the 2nd balcony was the Ace Detective Goro Akechi.

"Do you think he knows we're here?"

"I don't believe so, but we still need to be careful when walking around town. How far are you now Fox?"

"I'm almost finished, just a few moments," The artist was working on the piece, a general outline of the building was coming together. The paved road curving at the door where a garden bloomed in the middle. The trees in the back provided much-needed shade for the hot weather.

"Man its hoooooot!"

"We're almost finished, here double-check the guard count, I found eight. It seems they change every 45 minutes in the front and an hour from the back. Tossing back the binoculars, Ryuji counted himself.

Two standing inside the gate, another two by the kitchen door, three more were walking around bossing the others, and one lone guard stood on the roof facing away from them "I think I found about eight guards as well. Okumura's a bit paranoid isn't he?"

"When you're making that much money, everyone your enemy. Not sure if the guards are SIU as well, if not the Detective's on his own."

"I've finished my drawing Joker."

"Excellent, come on we don't want to overstay our welcome," Ren ordered. The three men packed up their gear and scaled-down the building ladder. "Split up and wander for a bit, we'll meet up at the estate."

"Got it."

"Understand."

Ren walked around a bit, keeping his head low and hands in his pockets. Turning the corner, he sees an officer standing in the middle of the sidewalk on duty. His arms were crossed and baton stick attached to his side. He could go another direction but this way was the fastest way to his horse. Ren could do this, just don't act suspicious.

Straighten up and removing his hands, Ren walked as calmly as he could on the pavement. Just relax, don't look him in the eye. His approach leads him by the officer, the older brother keeping his eyes forward as he passed. The officer glanced down briefly before doing a double-take. Ren was holding his breath still moving away.

"Thief! Someone stole my purse." A yell was heard in the crowd. The man looks the other way blowing his whistle towards the sounds of distress.

Releasing a sigh, Ren quickens his pace back to Arsene, "I should really invest in new clothes."

Back at the estate, it was business as usual for everyone. After guiding Arsene back to the stables, Ren walked around a while before seeing a familiar female blonde. She was working on a line of rope attempting to form a new lasso.

"Hello Ann," he greeted.

"Oh, Ren great timing. I actually need some help with this." She had shown him her progress so far. It was decent but still needed work.

"Not quite, you should probably loop this through here, then tuck this under."

"Okay." Following instructions, she gave it a final tug before testing it out, "It works perfectly. I just had some trouble with the latter half."

"What compelled you to work on that today?"

Ann sat back down next to Ren tucking the lasso on her hip, "I wanted to feel useful around here, work on keeping supplies and ammo up, checking weapons. Just lifting my weight around here."

"You've helped us out a lot of times Ann, you're not useless either."

"Thanks Ren, I think just certain days it gets better lately, but I can't help but think back to the days at the brothel. How weak I felt being under his thumb at every turn. I want to be strong, for Shiho, Ryuji, and everyone here. I refuse to let Kamoshida control my future."

"I'm glad to hear that, and once everything's done, I also hear we'll have a wedding to attend."

"Oh you know?"

"Ryuji briefly told me. I had to keep him from telling Morgana directly. The news would've broken his heart. But I think Kasumi wouldn't appreciate a fistfight in her guest house," The elder brother chuckled.

"What about you Ren?"

"What about me?"

"How have you been doing lately? It has been a crazy couple of months."

"Haha, you sound like Makoto the other day," Ren mentions, stretching on his back as he observed the cloudless sky.

"What on your date?"

".…It wasn't a date. We just happen to be on an outing."

"Isn't that the definition of a date?" Ann amusingly questions him.

"We just walked around the city. A 'date' would involve romantic feelings."

"So we're there…..?"

"I don't know what you're reaching for but Makoto and I are just friends and teammates." Ren rolled over to his side facing away from the blonde hair women feeling a smug look his way. Heaven forbid Ryuji and Ann team up on him regarding the topic of love.

Sighing in frustration, he rolls on his back once more, "I'll admit she's an attractive young woman who knows her way around a gun. I can admire that. Happy?"

Ann started laughing at him causing the older man to groan, "Ugh please stop laughing."

A/N Not much to say. Hopefully I can get the next chapter in time June 14th