A/N: I'm back! And I bear gifts! Finally, after a year of patient waiting, you have the newest chapter fo this sequel. I hope you like this. ;)
Continues where it left off at the previous chapter and adds yet another flashback. This time... *drumroll* Movie 7: Crossroads in the Ancient Capital! Please enjoy!
Some notes before starting though. I've included some Kansai-ben words into the dialogue just like I've included standard Japanese before.
The word that appears most in this is:
Oukini = Arigatou
Likewise the usage of honorific -han is very strong. Thing with Hoshi's speech is though that she uses -san when it's about family. Otherwise she is firmly with -han.
Another thing I struggled with was deciding which honorifics to use when canon cast were talking about the Kagemiya. In the end I chose for polite Kagemiya-san when it was about Hoshi since they didn't know she was actually a year younger. (Heiji used Hoshi-han at first when he didn't know her family name) And when Sonoko talked about Tsubaki, Ki'ichi and Tsukasa, she used -sama. I figured that since she knew about them in more formal setting it would be more appropriate (she calls Jirokichi -ojisama but her parents are mama and papa and Ayako is aneki.)
Chapter 2
Tsukiko looked around in Hoshi's room. Well, technically it was her room too but… It was still so new to her and Hoshi still felt so separate from her. The room wasn't hers yet. Tsukiko needed to familiarize herself with it before feeling at ease with it.
There was a knock against the door frame. Tsukiko didn't turn around from where she was examining the contents of the bookshelf. Inuyasha, Ranma ½, Yotsuba&!, Azumanga Daioh, Nichiyou… Hoshi had some familiar manga volumes collected there. Some Naruto, Bleach, HunterxHunter and first two volumes of Boku no Hero Academia were also found from the lower shelves.
"Baachan said we can stay the night." Shugo told her.
"Oh?" Tsukiko blinked and glanced over her shoulder. "Sounds good. Give her my thanks."
"I'll leave you to look around then."
"Sure…"
Shugo left as swiftly and quietly as he'd come. Tsukiko narrowed her eyes briefly. Just what all had Yamato taught him. She shook her head and focused on other items on the shelf. A photo frame…
"Shugo!" She barked sharply.
"Yes?" The boy slid back into the room.
"Have you… Have you ever met Tsukasa-jisan?"
"Nope. Can't say I have." Shugo shrugged. "If I have before my arrival to this world, I don't remember."
"Okay…"
"Why do you ask?"
"You've spoken of Tsubasa-san… our mother… but the first flashback I had since that conversation related to our uncle. Since you only briefly mentioned Tsukasa-jisan, I wondered." Tsukiko shrugged now in turn. The two pairs of greyish blue eyes observed each other for a moment.
"I guess… that you might've been closer to ojisan then…" Shugo sighed finally. "Do you want me to lift the block on the pictures and messages on your phone?"
"…Please." The girl dug her phone out from her pocket and after unlocking it, tossed it to her brother who caught it expertly. A couple of moments later it was tossed back to her and put back into her pocket. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. I'll go now. Baachan wants to talk to me about something."
"About me."
"Most likely yes."
Shugo left then. This time for real. Tsukiko picked up the photo frame and popped the back open. The photo inside had a date and event written down.
Hoshi-chan and Tsukasa-kun on 13th April 20XX. Hoshi-chan's 13th birthday.
Tsukiko assumed it was her grandmother who had written down the date and taken the picture of her and Tsukasa. In silence, she put the photo back and closed the frame. But instead of putting it back on the shelf, Tsukiko place it on the desk by the window.
"The cherry blossoms are blooming." The girl mused, looking at the trees outside her window and the river beyond the buildings in the view. The sight was… familiar. This whole house and the route from the station to Ponto-chou had been all very familiar. "I hope I'll dream of my past tonight."
Tsubaki's house was all in all very nice. It had two floors and surprisingly large. Kitchen with dining area, traditional sitting room that was acting as a living room too, two bedrooms and a toilet were in the first floor. One of the bedrooms were made into a piano room. Three bedrooms in upstairs, a bathroom and laundry room were in upstairs. Tsukiko's room was one of those bed rooms; the master bedroom where Tsubaki still slept in was in the first floor. The other two bed rooms in upstairs weren't in active use. One was a guest room and the other was storage space for things that couldn't be stored in the attic. The house also had a balcony that was attached to the laundry room and a small yard out back with two cherry trees and one magnolia tree. It was very simple but beautiful place.
Tsukiko could easily imagine living here. But was this place designed according to what she'd imagined back in her home world as her 'Japanese Home' looking like or had she imagined her dream home according to the place Hoshi was already living in? Which one of them came first really?
Nevertheless… Her room was dusty. She needed to clean this place. Tsukiko went to laundry room and picked a vacuum cleaner and some dusters from there. And moreover, what better way to get to know her room but to clean it from top to bottom.
The bed was in the corner left and the desk beneath the window opposite the door. The bookshelves were on the wall with the door. The closet was on the right from the door. All furniture were made of light wood and with the white walls, all the color to the room came from decorations and textiles. Light green curtains, pale blue carpet and darker blue bedspread with some decorative pillows. The place was quite roomy but not too big. Tsukiko liked the place.
When she was taking the carpet outside to be dusted and thus clear the floor for mopping, she came face to face with Tsubaki. Apparently, she had already talked with Shugo.
"Could we talk, Tsukiko-chan? Just the two of us?" The older woman asked. Tsukiko blinked.
"Sure. Where shall we go?" She smiled.
"The piano room."
They sat on the love seat by the window. April sun shone into the room. The floors were covered with tatami mats and the walls filled with bookshelves. Apparently, the room doubled as an archive too.
"How much has your brother told you about our family?" Tsubaki asked.
"Not much… Just about Kage and auras and briefly about our parents. He only mentioned Tsubame-basan living in Hokkaido and not having either trait… And Tsukasa-jisan having had Kage."
"He hasn't… He hasn't been that interested in our family's affairs. Probably because he has been living with Ishikawa-san and… The first time I saw him after he moved to Tokyo was six months ago when he came to take a look at the family tree and ask some questions…" Tsubaki sighed regretfully. "I wish I had fought you mother harder and had you both here. Even if I'm old… I still had Ki'ichi with me at first. And neighbors helping me."
"Is it… Is it bad that I don't remember things you've told me before?" Tsukiko asked.
"Yes and no. Kagemiya's are a wide-spread family. While I have faith in you recovering your memories in due time, it is also good for you to experience things on your own pace, without the burdens our family creates."
"You are of those Kagemiyas'?"
Who was that? Who asked that?
"Okay." Tsukiko nodded. "But still… could you tell me more?"
"With pleasure." Tsubasa lifted up a book from a side-table and opened it between them. It was a photo album. "The Kagemiya have lived in Kyoto since it's founding. They made alliances with other families mainly through connections with samurai. And of course with some newer names when other's died out. We had a family feud with the Koizumi who had strong European influences with their magic and abilities and eventually we drove them out of the capital with the help of our allies."
"Who are our allies nowadays?" The girl nodded, leaning over the family tree pictured in the book. There were some familiar names too…
"There are the Ayanokoji, the Ikenami, the Okita and the Midorikawa."
"You're a Midorikawa."
"Yes. And through you and your brother we are building a good rapport with the Kudou, the Kuroba, the Mouri and many others from Tokyo."
"And Hattori of Osaka… Heiji-san's mother Shizuka is an Ikenami."
"Very true. In today's society the alliances are more numerous if less binding."
"The distances are shorter and networking more efficient." Tsukiko hummed. "What do our family do?"
"We still own land and numerous housings. Our family members work wherever their passions lie… You mother and uncle both went to law enforcement. Tsubasa-chan abroad while Tsukasa-kun stayed in Japan. Tsubame-chan married and became a housewife to Takenaka-san… I wish them luck. So many miscarriages she has gone through… She even stopped working at library due the stress." Tsubaki sighed.
"Have you been overseeing the properties then?"
"We rent apartments in Tokyo. And organize events in gardens of Osaka and Nagoya. In Kyoto we had two tea houses with Fumimaro-kun's mother but mostly the city holds onto what we owned. We only keep an eye on how they do things. Ki'ichi-san and I took care of things when our children were studying. Tsukasa-kun was getting ready to take over when the time for right but…"
"But he died…" Tsukiko frowned. "Is it… Is it up to me and Shugo now? And Saya-san?"
"Saya-chan is not direct enough relation." Tsubaki pointed another branch on the tree. "I don't know what Shugo-kun told you about her but she is actually Ki'ichi's older sister's granddaughter. One of two."
Tsukiko looked at the two names listed. So Saya was actually… And no wonder she could feel auras too…
"You are strange… Like your place in this world hasn't been decided yet."
"Shugo implied she was Tsubame-ba's daughter. Takenaka Saya."
Tsubaki shook her head slowly.
"I do not know what Shugo has planned or why she is using the name she is. Nor do I know what Tsukasa-kun and Tsubasa-chan were investigating. I do not want to know either even if I tried to help any way I could."
Tsukiko froze for a moment. That's right… Tsubaki had lost both of her twins. And within a relatively short time too… Only three years apart or something.
"And I know you and Shugo-kun are also involved… And in danger. I did not visit you in Tokyo while you didn't remember anything, Tsukiko-chan. I wished to but at the same I acknowledged that you needed time to heal. I have not met this Okiya Subaru person myself but the fact you trusted him even without your memories, told me enough."
"Because?" Tsukiko frowned.
"Because you are a Kagemiya." Tsubaki answered. The girl blinked.
"But I got Kage, not auras. And they weren't even awake at that point."
"One isn't without other. And even then, the instincts to go along with them are there even if subconscious and dormant."
"I see…" She leant against the woman. "Tell me more."
"My name is Kagemiya Hoshi, nice to meet you all. Please enjoy your stay in Kyoto."
Tsukiko snuggled beneath her blanket and fell asleep surprisingly quickly. But then… This was her home too…
Marutake ebisu ni oshi oike.
Ane-san rokkaku tako nishiki.
Shi aya bu taka matsu man gojyou.
Setta chara chara uonotana.
Rokujyou hijyou toorisugi,
Hachijyou koereba Touji-michi.
Kujyou oujite todomesasu.
"Suruga-han? Suruga-han, it's nine o'clock already. Why is your bar still open?" Hoshi knocked on the doorframe. Suruga Jirou was one of her grandmother's associates and they usually talked on the phone after Jirou had closed his shop at six in the morning. To share gossip, he'd heard and such. But this morning there had been no such call. Not at seven. Not at eight even. So Tsubaki had sent Hoshi to Higashiyama-ku where Jirou's bar, Snack Jirou, was located at.
"I'm coming in…" Hoshi took a step inside and glanced around. She didn't need to search for long. Suruga Jirou was lying in the middle of the bar, some bar stools knocked down as a result of a struggle. There was blood but Hoshi couldn't see where it was coming from. Jirou's face was frozen in grimace…
"SURUGA-HAN!" She rushed forwards and kneeled beside the unmovable man. She was careful not to touch anything around her as she felt for pulse and fumbled her phone from her pocket.
"110, what has happened?"
"I'm at Snack Jirou in Higashiyama-ku… the owner, Suruga-han is not moving and I can't feel a pulse from him…"
It was jarring for Hoshi. Despite things she'd experienced already in her life, finding a body of someone she'd known was still shocking. While the girl hadn't been anyway close with Suruga Jirou, she'd still talked with the bartender a couple of times.
The police questioned her extensively about finding the man and her connections with him, especially after it was found that the man was part of a robbery group names Genjibotaru. And that four other members of said group had been killed that same night.
Hoshi sighed as she changed from school uniform into casual clothes. Golden Week had finally begun. She could relax and do some home city sightseeing as she liked to do at this time of the year. Usually she went with her grandmother or her friends but maybe this year she'd have some other company.
"Hoshi-chan… Hoshi-chan?" Tsubaki called from downstairs.
"Just a moment, obaa-san!" She took her uniform to the laundry room and headed downstairs then. Tsubaki was waiting for her in the kitchen, going through some official looking papers. "What is it?"
"I'm meeting a friend from Miyagawa-cho tomorrow at Sakura Tea House."
"Miyagawa-cho… mean Yamakura Tae-san." Hoshi remembered as she began preparing tea for the two of them.
"Exactly. We visited her tea house on your thirteenth birthday."
"With Tsukasa-jisan."
"Yes. Anyways, I'm meeting with her to discuss about some things happening in Kyoto…"
"Genjibotaru group and Suruga-san's involvement with them…"
"According to Yoshitsune Chronicles, there should be three other people left. We are going through our mutual associates and… how do you young people say it? Brainstorm their possible connections. The group has been active for twelve years. It is a long time and sudden strife like this either from outside or within the group is bound to be dangerous for bystanders as well."
"And you are going to share your conclusions with Fumimaro-han?" Hoshi confirmed.
"Precisely. While I have full confidence with his skills and research capabilities of the police of Kyoto, there is some information that you can only get by talking to people. That is why Suruga-kun and I had our daily phone calls."
"I see."
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Hoshi asked as she glared up at the teenager in front of her. She hadn't really planned on going to Higashiyama-ku again, but with Tsubaki's meeting only late in the evening, she thought to go and talk to people. Take a leaf out of her grandmother's book seeing as she knew the people around Snack Jirou. What she hadn't expected to find was a high-schooler methodically going from one shop to another and repeating the same questions for the owners and cashiers there. About if they'd seen anything about Suruga Jirou's murder. She also hadn't expected to witness a purse-snatcher on a bicycle and seeing the boy stop him by hitting the man on the "Benkei's Crying Spot" with a stick that hung the banner of the store he'd just exited. The robber went flying and when he tried to run away, Hoshi stepped in to stop him. She had been taught the basics of the martial arts that the police officers used, taiho-jutsu, by her uncle and then expanded upon it by Fumimaro and some self-study.
So, she brought the man to the ground and pinned him relatively softly and safely, with no worse scrapes.
"Uh, Hattori Heiji… I was just asking for witnesses…" The dark-skinned boy laughed nervously, glancing between her and the pinned purse-snatcher who was struggling but Hoshi wasn't letting up at all.
"The Detective of West? All the way from Osaka?" Hoshi asked skeptically. She remembered the teen now that she had the name to put with the face. He lost to Okita two years ago in Kendo-tournament and when the previous match was in Naniwa, Hattori's hometown, the boy hadn't competed at all though he had definitely been there. So what was he doing this time?
"Well, yes." Heiji shrugged and then picked up the purse that had been stolen and gave it to the unfortunate victim. "Here. It's yours, right?"
"Thank you. That was very kind of you." The woman looked quite familiar…
"Yamakura-han? Is that you?" Hoshi blinked. The purse-snatcher tried to get up then, but the girl shifted her weight to press him back down. "Ah, if someone alerted the cops, it'd be quite appreciated…"
"I can do that, Kagemiya-han." The owner of the loaned banner said, having stepped out to inspect the commotion.
"Oukini, Katou-han!"
"Hoshi-chan? It's been years since we last saw. You've grown so much." Yamakura Tae smiled. "Do you know this nice young man? Your teamwork was quite exceptional."
"Ah, no… First time meeting." Hoshi shrugged.
"I manage a tea house in Miyagawa-cho." Tae told Heiji then and gave her business card. "Take yours out as well." She instructed the maiko with her.
"I am Chika Suzu. Nice to meet you." The young woman greeted the boy.
"How should be thank you?"
"I didn't do very much, so it's alright." Heiji replied. In the distance some sirens could be heard.
"Then, please come visit next time." Tae offered.
"Take care going home." The boy told them as police officers arrived on the scene to detain the purse-snatcher. Hoshi got on her feet gratefully. Detaining a full-grown man constantly struggling was quite tiresome.
"Thank you." Tae bowed. As Heiji drove away on his motorcycle, Hoshi turned to address Tae and Suzu.
"Tsubaki-baasan told me yesterday that you are going to meet."
"Ah, yes. We'll have a lot to talk about and you are welcome to join us." Tae smiled.
"I'll keep that in mind. Until we see again." Hoshi bowed and they parted ways.
"You should be more careful, Hoshi-han." Ayanokoji Fumimaro stated as he stepped out from between two buildings. "You are still a civilian and not had formal training when detaining criminals."
"I trusted that getting hit in the Benkei Spot would keep him from struggling too much." The girl replied as she fell in step with the man. "Besides… You've overseen my training, you know what I'm capable of."
"I do. But at the same time, I'm a friend of your family and thus entitled to worry about your actions. You are only sixteen after all."
"I know. And I'll be careful." Hoshi agreed. She put her hand into her hoodie pocket and fished out some peanuts. The rustle of the plastic package attracted Kara-chan to her. "Were you stalking Hattori-san, by the way?" She asked whilst feeding the chipmunk. Fumimaro sniffed at the choice of words but refrained from commenting them.
"His turf is in Osaka. I don't care what he is allowed to do there, under his father's supervision, but this is Kyoto."
"And Kyoto is the territory of Alliance." The girl placed Kara-chan on Fumimaro's shoulder. The chipmunk slipped back into the man's breast pocket. And when it peeked out again, Fumimaro rubbed its head.
"Precisely."
Hoshi smiled. "Well, I think I'll be heading home now. Can't really investigate in peace with the commotion just stirred up…" She shrugged and tilted a head in the man's direction. "You are welcome to join us at Sakura Tea House in the evening if you so wish. I'm sure obaa-san would like to see you again. Especially considering what she and Yamakura-san are going to talk about."
"I'll consider it." Fumimaro nodded slowly. "Have a good evening. And stay safe."
"You as well."
Night fell to Ponto-cho. Hoshi sat next to Tsubaki while the woman and Yamakura Tae discussed about their mutual acquaintances. In the next room over, Chika Suzu and Ichi Kayo were entertaining customers. Hoshi could hear the shamisen and Kayo's singing.
"Hoshi-chan, you are good with puzzles, aren't you?" Tsubaki spoke up then, interrupting the girl's musings about the case.
"Yes. Fairly good." The girl nodded slowly. "How so?"
"Suruga-han gave me a copy of some sketch he received from a friend of his. He hoped that one of our family's connections would come through with the solution. Since he is dead now, I doubt it'll be of any importance, but maybe it would amuse you."
Tsubaki gave a sheet of paper to Hoshi. It had a five-step stage pictured in it, with numerous images placed by them. Tengu, flower, octopus, acorn…
"Huh, interesting… Thank you, Tsubaki-baasan." The girl inspected the picture for a moment before folding it to her pocket. "May I be excused now?"
"Very well, I think our meeting is pretty much concluded as well." Tsubaki stated and Tae nodded in agreement. "It means that we can move on to lighter matters."
Hoshi refrained from grimacing. She really wasn't one for gossip.
"But you are excused, Hoshi-chan. Just don't disturb the workers."
"I won't."
"You can go to listen to Suzu-chan's performance." Tae suggested. "As long as you remain outside the room."
"I think I'll do that." Hoshi got on her feet and left the room. The room with the performance going on was just by their room and thus the girl sat on the right side of the door, properly in seiza, and with the puzzle on her lap.
The performance was closing in when the front door downstairs opened and several people entered. There was a pause, with them probably either reserving the room or asking directions before they headed up the stairs. And there was a familiar face too.
"Hattori-han?" Hoshi blinked that the high-school detective and folded the puzzle. It had been quite amusing to solve.
"Ah, um… Hoshi-han… was it?"
"That's my name, yes. And you are?" She looked at the three girls and little boy with him. Oh, two of them were familiar. The little boy and the long-haired girl. They were on the same train with Hoshi when the two men tried to blow it all up. Edogawa Conan and…
"My name is Mouri Ran, these are Suzuki Sonoko and Toyama Kazuha. And this is Edogawa Conan. Nice to meet you." The girl introduced. And oh, all those names Hoshi knew from Shugo's stories. Two of them plus the boy from Tokyo and one of them from Osaka.
"My name is Kagemiya Hoshi, nice to meet you all. Please enjoy your stay in Kyoto."
"Thank you very much." Kazuha smiled and then Ran opened the door to the room and slipped in.
"Why don't you keep climbing!?" She seemed to be saying angrily to someone in the room.
"You guys, why are you…" A man replied from inside. Probably the father/uncle from the train. Considering that Ran and Conan didn't share a surname, it was possible the man inside was one for each of them.
"Why don't you join us?" Kazuha asked Hoshi. "No need for you to remain here."
"Ah, I was just listening to the shamisen. Tsubaki-baasan should be done with her catch-up soon." The girl tried to deflect.
"Don't be shy." Sonoko added. "Just tell her, you are with friends."
"Very well…" It was a short way home anyways. She could walk it alone too. Hoshi went to inform Tsubaki that she'd be in the other room, before joining the other teens. She took a seat next to Suzu at the corner of the table, with Conan on her other side.
"Hey, aren't you from Miyagawa-cho?" Heiji asked Suzu.
"Yes. I'm Chika Suzu. Thank you for the help earlier." The maiko replied.
"Do you know her?" Kazuha asked the boy.
"Yeah, just a little bit." Heiji nodded. Meanwhile Ran was scolding the man who turned out to be her father. Apparently Mouri Kogoro had been very drunk just moments ago. Ah, the sobering effect of surprise and the disappointment in your children's voice.
The conversation turned to Genjibotaru and the Yoshitsune Chronicles. Apparently, each of the killed members of the group had owned said book. (And so did the three men accompanying Mouri and the monk.)
"Even Suruga-san?" Hoshi asked with a frown.
"Yes, he bought it from my shop." Saijou Taiga, the owner of used book store, replied.
"Did you know Suruga-san?" Heiji asked then. "You were in Higashiyama-ku today…"
"Yes. Not that well really. Suruga-san and Tsubaki-baasan used to have phonecalls daily and talk about gossip he heard during his bar's opening hours. When he didn't call that one morning, obaa-san sent me to check up on him." Hoshi smiled bitterly. It was something one couldn't unsee.
"So you mean you were there to…"
"I found Suruga-san's body and called the police." The girl shrugged. "It was something I wish I hadn't seen."
The talk continued about the books and Mizuo Shuntarou summarized them his favourite story in Yoshitsune Chronicles, the Ataka no Benkei. Afterwards though Sakura Shozo requested a place to sleep for an hour or so and he was directed to the rooms downstairs. It was quarter past eight.
"Wow, you can see the river!" Sonoko admired when she opened the ricepaper screen to balcony.
"That is Kamogawa river." Kayo told the girl.
"The cherry blossoms are beautiful."
"Yes, they really are." Kazuha agreed.
"Ran, come and see!"
"It's good to see the cherry blossoms from the river bed of Kamogawa as a couple. However, the view from the river that flows beneath this building, Misogigawa, is exceptional." Kayo explained to the girls now gathered by the window.
"It is beautiful yes." Hoshi agreed, getting on her feet.
"You've been here often then, Kagemiya-san?" Ran asked.
"Yes, I live just a kilometer to north or so. Tsubaki-baasan's house is also in Ponto-cho." Hoshi explained. Behind them, Kogoro was chatting up Suzu while still completely drunk. To which Ran intervened once more. Hoshi listened idly as Heiji and Conan spotted Fumimaro outside and snickered inwardly. The man's crush on Suzu was so cute. Then Mizui Shuntaro recommended the teens to admire the river from the balcony below.
"Let's go." Sonoko agreed.
"Yes. Sounds great." Ran nodded.
"I'm going to stay here." Conan interjected.
"Me too." Heiji added.
"Why?" Kazuha asked the dark-skinned teen. "Are you anxious about that dancing girl?"
"Ahou…" The boy sighed. "Don't ask anything pointless."
The girl's located on the other balcony, from which the view at the river and blossoming cherry trees was magnificent. They were served snacks and tea.
"Nee, nee, Kagemiya-san…" Sonoko spoke up. "I just realized. Since you are from Kyoto, you are one of those Kagemiya's, right?"
"If you mean the alliance, then yes." Hoshi smiled wryly. "We aren't as influential as some other families but we compensate for it with our connections."
"I see." The girl grinned back. "Then, can you tell me the answer to the mystery of missing heir?"
"The missing heir?" Kazuha frowned. Ran seemed confused too but Hoshi chuckled.
"It is not really a mystery anymore… But I can tell you. Once you've explained your friends the context so I know where to begin."
"Okay, so the Kagemiya's have these great connections all around Kyoto and extending to rest of the Japan too. They own property and oversee other properties that are being maintained by the city. They have alliances with some other families too and acquaintances with numerous people. Thus, they get invited to parties and such also in the upper crust. My family had some dealings with Kagemiya Ki'ichi-sama when he was still alive." Sonoko shot an enquiring look at Hoshi.
"He was my grandfather."
"Ah, you are main family then."
"Yes."
"Alright. So naturally, like all families, they also named an heir to handle their numerous business contacts. That was their only son, though youngest child, Kagemiya Tsukasa-sama."
"Tsubame-basan married Takenaka-han and moved away." Hoshi added. She didn't mention that Tsubame was ineligible due lack of Kagemiya trait. "My mother, Tsubasa refused to become the heiress and married outside country."
"Right. So, Tsukasa-sama was introduced to the public as the heir. Not very wide public, he only made two or three appearances… until he disappeared after finishing high school twenty years ago. And no one heard a peep of him until three years ago when…"
"When Tsubaki-obaasan let the public know he'd passed away." Hoshi stated sadly.
"Exactly. So I'm curious now to know, what happened to the missing heir."
"Simple. He took another name and joined the police forces."
"Eh, really?" Kazuha gaped.
"Yes. Tsukasa-jisan always wanted to help people. He wanted to be a police officer but he also wanted to manage the Kagemiya properties. However, he didn't want the two to intersect and disrupt each other. So, he took another name while in Police Academy and in the force." The girl explained. "The Kagemiya have multiple identities prepared due and thanks to our connections. They are all equally valid. Even I have two other names that I can use if needed. But I'm not telling them to you." She winked.
"Killjoy." Sonoko snorted. "Does that mean that if we meet again someday, you might be using some other name?"
"Possibly yes." Hoshi grinned and pointed at one of the trees on the opposite shore. "See that, the tree over there?"
"That one?" Sonoko pointed approximately to the correct direction.
"Yes, that tree has one of the best branches for sitting and eating snacks. My friends and I go there usually around Hanami."
"I see."
Ran glanced upwards suddenly.
"What's the matter, Ran-chan?" Kazuha asked the girl.
"Nothing." The other girl shook her head. The Osakan looked up towards the room where the rest of the party were still residing, to see Heiji giving a victory sign.
"That guy, Heiji…" Kazuha huffed. "He really makes me angry."
"But… Kazuha-chan, I envy you."
"Eh?"
"Because, you can meet him whenever you want to." Ran looked sad that Hoshi really wanted to reach out and hug the girl.
"Ran-chan…"
"That's true." Sonoko sighed. "I can't easily meet with Makoto-san either. A maiden's worries are endless."
There was a hurray from upstairs.
"Compared to us, those old guys are energetic."
"Alcohol has a lot of calories in it." Hoshi mused. "But really, boyfriends get you three so upset?"
"Meh, Makoto-san and I got together last summer." Sonoko shrugged. "We call a lot since he has to travel a lot to karate competitions."
"Makoto, Makoto… You mean Kyogoku Makoto-han then?"
"That's right. And Ran here is pining after her love of a lifetime, Kudou Shinichi. They've known each other since kindergarten."
"I see. And Toyama-han and Hattori-han are as good as an item then?"
"We are not!" Kazuha protested. "Heiji is just a-!"
"Mou, Sonoko. Lay off already." Ran muttered.
"And what about you, Kagemiya-san? How's your love life?"
"Umm… I've never really thought about it." Hoshi shrugged. "I know a couple of nice boys but they… I don't think I'm ready to date anyone yet."
Time passed nicely whilst amicably chatting. The full moon above river and blossoms was beautiful. It was nine o'clock.
And someone screamed.
"What? Who screamed?" Sonoko asked.
"That sounded like the owner." Hoshi frowned as they got up. People were running down the stairs, their thundering footsteps heard clearly. The girl let the other three walk before her as she flipped open her phone and called Fumimaro. Whilst waiting for the man to pick up, she listened for the conversation by the storage room. Sakura was dead.
Hoshi explained the situation to Fumimaro via phone while Ran was calling the police. She also added the mention to two and half amateur detectives on the scene. And received an instruction to shoo them out of the scene from contaminating it.
"Please step away." Hoshi told Conan, Heiji and Kogoro while standing firmly outside the room. "The police are on their way and we don't need amateurs messing with the scene of crime."
"You again…" Heiji glared.
"Amateur?" Kogoro spluttered.
"Toyama-han, Suzuki-han, could you guide the men and ladies back to the party room? Make sure none of them take any detours. As of now, everyone within this building are suspects until otherwise proved."
"Alright." Kazuha nodded. "This way please."
"Same applies on you three." Hoshi turned back to address the detectives. "You are not authorized to be investigating this and the police are already in their way."
"We are experienced…" Heiji began.
"You've never before been in this room, correct? That means that just by coming here in your socks, you are contaminating the scene." The girl replied flatly. "I acknowledge that you've been helping on cases before. But this is Kyoto and we do now tolerate any interference. Especially before the police has assessed the scene first."
"Understood." Kogoro nodded and grabbed Conan from the scruff on his jacket. "Don't touch the corpse! How many times do I have to tell you until you understand?" And the half-pint of a detective was tossed out of the room. Well, that was one way of doing it. Hoshi dodged the boy and then neatly stepped to him.
"Oukini." She smiled when she picked the handkerchief containing Sakura's keys from the boy. "I'll make sure that the officers get these. You go with Hattori-han to join others alright?" She smiled a tad condescendingly at the boy.
"Hai…" The kid grumbled and left with the Osakan teen. Hoshi remained at the scene of crime, guarding it while waiting for Fumimaro and his team.
"Kyoto Prefectural police… You are remarkably fast in arriving." She could hear Heiji commenting.
"Did you bring your chipmunk today?" Conan asked next.
"I don't always take it with me." Fumimaro replied and continued down the stairs. "Hoshi-han." He nodded to the girl.
"Fumimaro-han." She nodded back. "Thank you for your timely arrival."
"Thank you for your immediate report." The man replied. Hoshi smiled and handed Sakura's keys to the man.
"The half-detective tried to take them, probably in order to investigate later with Hattori-han."
"I see. Thank you for intervening then. Please go join the others."
"May I inform obaa-san about this turn of events?"
"She's still here?"
"Yes. With Yamakura-han. They didn't come downstairs with everyone else though."
"Then go tell her but I request you to remain with them until we let you go home."
"Alright."
Tsubaki and Tae were both understandably shocked about the turn of events. Hoshi remained quiet while waiting for the officers investigate and…
"Hoshi-han, I have a request to you." Fumimaro appeared on the doorway. "Take these keys and one of the officers with you and check Sakura-han's shop. You know what to look for."
Hoshi blinked and nodded. Given the recent cases, there was one thing that was of interest if it was found in Sakura's possession. Yoshitsune Chronicles.
"Be careful, Hoshi-chan." Tsubaki whispered.
"I will. Be back soon." Hoshi smiled and followed Fumimaro out of the door. She got a pair of gloves from one of the forensics and joined then with officer Tainaka Miroharu at the front door. She was acutely aware of Heiji and Conan's gazes on her back and she left, twirling the keys in one finger.
The Sakura Antique Art Shop was at Teramachi-dori. Hoshi let herself and Tainaka in the building.
"We're looking at the bookshelves, right?" Tainaka confirmed. "To see if Sakura-han is connected to Genjibotaru."
"Yes, especially for Yoshitsune Chronicles." Hoshi nodded.
They found Sakura's office and began perusing the book selection. The walls were lined with bookshelves and filled full but eventually they found what they were looking for.
"Ise no Saburou?" Hoshi found from inside the cover. And between the pages was the same puzzle that Hoshi had received from Suruga through Tsubaki. How strange…
"Let's go back."
"Found it then?" Tainaka asked.
"Hai."
"Bag and tag it then." The officer gestured her to lay the book on the table where he took photos of both it and the paper inside. Then they were put into separate evidence bags and sealed with red tape. All in all, a quick procedure before heading back to Ponto-cho.
Fumimaro was waiting for them when they arrived and presented the findings. A quirk of an eyebrow prompted Hoshi to speak up.
"The paper was found inside the book. At the inside cover was 'Ise no Saburo' written."
"I see… That means only Yoshitsune and Benkei are left."
"Fumi-… Ayanokoji-keibu, I have a copy of a paper like that too." Hoshi fidgeted a bit. There was stares at her back again. She took the paper out of her pocket. "I got this from Tsubaki-baasan who got it from Suruga-han."
"I see. You can keep it then if it is just a copy." Fumimaro stated. "Thank you for your help tonight, Hoshi-han."
"I was glad to help."
"Go collect your grandmother and go home. We will be in contact if something comes up."
"Alright. Oyasumi nasai.
"Oyasumi nasai."
Hoshi was cleaning. She was feeling stressed over the entire situation; thus, she focused her energy on dusty spots in the house. She was just wiping the glass of a framed Police Academy Diploma for one Midorikawa Hiroyuki when the house phone rang. Tsubaki went to answer it. A moment later she came back.
"It was Enkai-dono. We've been invited to Sannou-ji to listen Mouri Kogorou-san's deductions. Do you want to go?"
"Sannou-ji? Sure. Are you coming too, Tsubaki-baasan?" Hoshi folded the cloth she'd been using. Tsubaki shook her head slowly.
"I'll pass. I have a meeting with another associate of mine later today. You go and have fun."
"I will." The girl grinned and skipped away.
It was half-embarrassing and half-irritating to listen to Mouri's deduction. According to the man, Chika Suzu had killed Sakura Shozo due some very assumed and far-fetched motive. Thankfully Yamakura and others came to Suzu's defense.
And then the man tried to use Fumimaro's chipmunk to 'reenact' the disposal of the murder weapon. The kids gathered (when did they multiply?) got mad at the man while Kara-chan refused to cooperate.
"That wouldn't work anyways." Hoshi announced.
"Huh, why not?" Kogorou glared.
"Because…" She put a hand into her hoodie pocket where she crinkled the bag of nuts a bit. Kara-chan immediately skipped to her though slower than usual. "I carried this bag with me the whole evening yesterday, occasionally snacking some. If Kara-chan had been within the house at the time of murder, he would've come to me and thus the murder weapon would've been found instead of Hattori-han being injured last night with it. Not to mention that the knife was way too heavy for Kara-chan to move around with freely." The girl fed peanuts to the chipmunk and untied him from the demonstration weapon.
"Can I hold him?" One of the kids asked. It was the girl with dark hair and a headband. Hoshi glanced at Fumimaro who gave discreet nod.
"Sure. But do be careful."
"Let's give it something to eat."
"I've got acorns!"
An acorn fell into a stream…
"It's like Donguri Koro Koro." The girl chuckled. And Conan rushed inside, with Heiji following him. How curious… Hoshi got on her feet and followed on much sedate pace. The two were by table with a map of Kyoto spread in front of them. As well as the same puzzle that Hoshi had solved last night.
"First are the roads that run East to West." Conan was speaking. How adult like speech pattern he had. Hoshi hadn't really paid attention to it during the Shinkasen bombings. "The fifth row stands for Gojyou-dori. The fourth one is Shijyou-dori. And in between the third and second row, which means between Nijyou-dori and Sanjyou-dori, is Oike-dori."
Huh, the kid actually got it. Wonder where he'd heard the temari song…
"And to prove that…"
"Donguri Koro Koro?" Heiji muttered.
"Next are the roads that run North to South. The violet, which is present in the song Haru no Ogawa, is part of Owaga-dori. The Tengu is represented in Karasuma-dori. And for Fuji-san, the character 'fu' is 'tomi'. So it is Tominokuji-dori."
"What is the chicken for?"
"Nishinotouin-dori." Hoshi spoke up and stepped into the view from the obscuration of the rice paper door. "The loach is Yanaginobanba-dori in the otherhand." Without invitation, she sat opposite the boys. "Do you need help?"
"Ah, we'll manage, Kagemiya-no-neechan." Conan chuckled.
"Have you solved this entire paper then?" Heiji asked.
"Yes. Last night, just moments before we met at Sakura Tea House." Hoshi smiled. "Well, don't mind me. I'm curious to hear how you'll solve this."
"Right… For the cicada, there's an abura semi, which relates to Aburanokouji-dori." Conan continued then, the boys blissfully forgetting her presence. "The Tengu represents Karasuma Avenue."
"And if the goldfish, has something to do with goldfish food 'fu', it represents Fuyachou-dori." Heiji added.
"Then if you connect the similarly colored violet and Fuji-san, the chicken and the loach, the cicada and goldfish, and both tengu's together with a line…"
"Ou (King). Why is it a king?" Heiji questioned the kanji that appeared on the map. But Conan noticed the last clue on the puzzle.
"It's a dot! Isn't it like this?" The boy made the final addition. "Tama can also be read as gyoku, or jewels."
"This place is…"
"Bukkou-shi…"
And they were off. Hoshi shook her head at the boys' anticts.
"So lively…" She hummed as she folded up the map and hid it in her hoodie pocket. No good for the suspects to find it. Better give it to Fumimaro as soon as possible.
Hoshi really hadn't meant to join into the mess. She'd given the paper to Fumimaro and for all intents planned to let the police handle it all. But then she'd run into Ran who'd been looking for Conan and Heiji and not answering to phone. And Kazuha was missing too. The only clue was Bukkou temple and the stone indicating the move of Gyokuryuu-ji.
"I heard the temple is at Kuramayama." Ran told her.
"That's correct. It was evacuated years ago though." Hoshi nodded and paused. "Do you need back-up?"
"Please."
And they departed, with Hoshi shooting a message of her destination to Tsubaki and Fumimaro both.
The temple was deep into forest and the only real way of going there was a single road up. Hoshi and Ran were running in when they heard male voices talking to each other and apparently searching for someone. They all wore kendou outfits and Noh-masks though lacked other protections. They did have live steel katanas.
Ran was pulled into the safety of trees by someone. Hoshi glanced aside but she was already spotted by then. So she turned on her heels and ran downhill. What she had seen, the boy holding Ran wasn't hostile, simply keeping her safe. So now Hoshi had to play bait and thus let Ran progress to the temple on her own. And as soon as she had more space to work, she could subdue the masked men. Three against one weren't the best odds, especially when she lacked a weapon, but she could work with it.
Taiho-jutsu was useful indeed when subduing criminals. Hoshi had run all the way to the foot of the mountain before engaging them. And apparently Fumimaro had arrived with his men just in time to cuff the weirdo's when they were recovering. Shiratori-keibu, Kogoro and two others – an old man and the brunette little girl – were there too but they entered the mountain. Probably to look for Ran. Hoshi followed them. She wanted to see this until the end after all.
Ran was found asleep by a tree. She spoke of Shinichi. Kogoro dismissed it as her dreaming but Hoshi had an inkling that the other girl meant by it her mysterious rescuer. Though why the missing Heisei Holmes would be in Kyoto was anyone's guess.
"Ah, Kagemiya-san, thank god you are alright." Ran smiled.
"It's okay, Mouri-han. Ayanokoji-keibu arrived in time to arrest them." Hoshi shrugged.
And then there was smoke rising from the temple and flames flaring at the darkened sky.
"Kazuha-chan!" Ran gasped.
They hurried up.
More masked weirdos greeted them when arriving. Ran engaged them with karate, Kogorou with judou, Kazuha was apparently dispatching them with aikido and Heiji had fought the leader with his kendou skills. Fumimaro's men arrested them all.
"Conan-kun was here too?" Hoshi blinked at the boy standing next to Kazuha. So Heiji had really taken the boy with him to rescue the girl. How foolish…
Listening to the Osakan couple to talk though… and Conan's meaningful cough, the location of the missing statue was solved too. And maybe at some point Hoshi would ask about the entire drama and motives going on with the Genjibotaru group and Benkei who apparently was Saijou Taiga but for now… She just wanted to go home and sleep. Preferably for an entire week.
"Ne, Kagemiya-no-neechan?" Conan approached her. "Do you want to see the statue's hiding place as well?"
"Sure."
"We're retrieving it tomorrow morning." The little imp smiled.
Okay, she'd get a couple of hours of sleep before that then. Maybe.
No sleep. Just police questioning. Then a ride back to the Gyokuryuu-ji on Heiji's motorbike. Hoshi grumbled to herself that it was illegal to ride on it with three people and they better take taxi to Sannou-ji because she wasn't going to hold the statue in her lap while having Conan piggy-back riding her. The boys humored her and thus on early dawn they went to the bell tower of the temple, which was shaped like the kanji tama and even had the bell tower as the dot. Moreover…
"If you put and 'ukanmuri' on the top of 'tama', it becomes 'takara' (treasure)." Conan explained. "The ukanmuri represented a roof."
"I see." Heiji agreed and procured a little crystal ball from his pocket that he pressed to the forehead of the statue. Hoshi blinked and let her eyes trail to the Osakan's shoulder and the rip on his jacket. It hadn't been there at tea house but at Sannou temple yes.
"Now it's back to normal." Heiji stated.
"Yeah." Conan agreed.
"Did you get targeted for that?" Hoshi asked the teen.
"Yeah, twice." The boy shrugged. Hoshi shook her head at the nonchalance of the answer. Boys…
"Okay then. I'll ask Tainaka-keiji to give us a ride to Sannou-ji." The girl stated and flipped her phone open. There was absolutely no way she'd endanger herself with the balancing act of three people and a heavy statue on a motorbike despite the lack of traffic so early in the morning.
"Oukini, Kagemiya-han." Heiji grinned. Bastard, wanted her along only for her connections to Kyoto Department. But Hoshi grinned back and pressed call.
The statue was returned and it was time for the Tokyoite's to return home too. The children were saying goodbyes to Kara-chan. And apparently Kazuha was Heiji's first love instead of Suzu.
"Ah, you say yome-san instead of ane-san. That's so cute." Hoshi smiled after Kazuha finished the temari song that had been great help in solving the mysteries of the weekend.
"Thank you, Hoshi-chan." Kazuha smiled back but blinked. "I mean, Kagemiya-han."
"Hoshi-chan is fine. Please, call me Hoshi-chan, Toyama-han." If Hoshi blushed, it was her own business. She liked Kazuha. She wanted to be her friend, especially since she had greater chance at meeting with her than with Ran and Sonoko…
"You can call me Kazuha then." The Osakan girl replied.
"Kazuha-han." Hoshi nodded. Because she recognized these people. They were Shugo's friends. Which meant they were older than her. Maybe only a year but still… And manners were quite deeply instilled in her by Tsubaki even though in some settings she acted quite freely.
"You are strange… Like your place in this world hasn't been decided yet." Someone spoke up from behind Hoshi but when she turned around to address the person…
Tsukiko woke up to the sound of her alarm clock. Just why had she put it on… She yawned as she sat up. The memory-dream had been quite nice. Though exhausting. Tsukiko still felt tired, like she'd been running up and down Kuramayama physically instead of merely in her dreams.
The clock continued ringing and the girl got up from her bed to shut it down. It had been placed on her bookshelf, right next to the picture of her and Tsukasa, so she'd be forced to get up in order to shut it. Effective way of getting people out of bed. Glad to see that some things didn't change between worlds.
Her eyes trailed on the picture again. Maybe there was something she could do to feel closer to her past…
At downstairs, Tsukiko sat down for breakfast.
"Tsubaki-baasan, could you please cut my hair?"
A/N: I hope the chapter fullfilled the expectations. I had a bit aof trouble to balance what Hoshi could do and know and where she could be involved in. Did you guess who her second cousins are? It's in the end quite obvious. What about uncle? I've been hinting for it a long time throughout DoN, LtRU and the two chapters of this fic. Everyone is connected in DC world. That's my excuse for this all. (just wait for Chasing Shadows. There is one more familial connection.)
Replies to Reviews: (thank you for waiting)
-ryuri050301:
Thank you. I hope you liked this chapter too.
I'm glad you like my OC, thank you for waiting.
-Tsuki: (guest)
Great to know I explain things well. :) I'm always a bit wary about telling things because I can't be sure if I'm being too obscure or too obvious since everything is more or less in order in my head.
Ah, I see. Our official publisher stopped after vol 78 so afterwards I've only read the English fantranslation... And there will be a bunch of spoilers in future about the newest chapters so I'm warning you beforehand. ;)
It's okay. I like to read reviews even if they ramble a bit.
-D9XDCHW:
Eventually Leap into Relatively Unknown will catch up with Dream or Not timelinewise. Not for a while since I've only just got it to the start of canon. And I wanted to get LiRU to the start of canon before continuing writing this sequel. It just took a couple of chapters before reaching the point... Sorry for being confusing. In the future I'll updated fics as I have inspiration to write and not abstain for writing certain fic in order to push myself to write some other.
-AlexCephon:
Thank you. I've been working with this chapter the past week. I hope you like this.