Strife Arc:
Chapter 71: The Case of Therion
"The forbidden number 666 were marked by the beast of revelation, for it is the mark of a man, and he is the man of sin."
Tatsuya Suou
Clear Sky - Evening - ?/7/2012 - Secluded Motorcycle Workshop, Kyoto
(2 months earlier)
Tatsuya Suou finally took a few steps away from his masterwork to behold the glorious white paint, the last branding on his customized bike. Sweats drenched his tank top as he nodded in satisfaction.
He heard knocking on the half-opened garage door, completely forgotten the visitor who arrived ten minutes earlier.
"Can I come in?" Kazumi peeked his head below the exposed door.
"Don't touch the paint," Tatsuya warned, heading to the small table and chugged down his water bottle.
"Is that it?" Kazumi examined the bike behind his mask, "The masterpiece you're working on for months?"
"If I'm to be the renowned Destroyer, might as well going all out," Tatsuya sat down on his chair, pushing another empty seat to the Mask Collector. He sat down in hurry after resting his large bag on the floor. He began rummaging the content and pull out something.
"I got what you asked," Kazumi lent the files to him, "About this... Beasts."
"That's it?" Tatsuya took the files with sharp glares.
"Sorry, searching this much is enough to get me killed," Kazumi shuddered, "Yes, the two brothers came from Inaba."
He made a quick look, though the report didn't satisfy him, "Tell me something I don't know."
Kazumi sighed, "Ame Hitoshi wasn't native from Japan."
"As in what?" Tatsuya turned to him.
"He grew up with his brother Umashi in Inaba, but Ame wasn't born there. In fact, they're not even related. Ame's mother married the town's native a few decades ago. Umashi had already lost his real mother when he was young."
He nodded, "So they're stepbrothers."
"And... one more thing. There's actually another one called Yamada Hitoshi, but he disappeared in the forest when he was five. They never found him, and-"
"I don't need these details, not yet," Tatsuya interrupted, "How did these two operate?"
Kazumi pointed, "The bottom one."
He flipped to the last pages as Kazumi continued, "Ame is a brilliant architect. He constructed theme parks, hospitals, and housing areas in a flash. But there were faint rumors about this man. Wherever he goes, some hidden crime will always expose itself in his presence. Tax fraud, thievery, yakuza's dirty money; name it. There's always witness to their crime, always. Ame built a new building upon bad rumors, after rumors, sometimes before the crime was exposed. His constructions always had stories."
"He loves stories behind his creation, like the destruction of Koukai Ward in Sumaru, and framing people." He fidgeted his lighter unconsciously, "The rumors never spread far?"
"Against a charitable man? He's a saint to the public." Kazumi paused, "I tried to interrogate some of the accused exposed in Ame's building. They believed themselves committing those crimes, despite their clean records."
"Like being mind-controlled."
The silence overwhelmed the workshop until Tatsuya broke the silence.
"Try again, search," Tatsuya said, "If these two were the Beast of the Sea and Earth, one of them holds the Mark of the Beast."
Kazumi frowned, "Mark of the..."
"666. Find any relation in the case to this number." Tatsuya left his seat and approached the bike, "These two are much bigger in this prophecy than I thought."
Kazumi sighed loudly, "Don't expect a faster result this time."
He caressed the bike as the collector left the workshop.
Naoto Shirogane
Cloudy - Evening - 30/11/2012(Friday) - Rest table near Samegawa Flood Plain, Inaba
The moment they both sat on the small roofed table minutes earlier, Naoto knew the recording wouldn't be smooth as she hoped. Yukiko should have trust a notebook than her memories. Still, she hoped her friend's information is accurate. This could be a trump card in a war, a vital intelligence too precious to fall into the wrong hand. Thankfully, the rest of the Investigation Team agreed to her request.
"...At Tokyo. Which part, I can't pry it out of him. He said there are assassins in their ranks," Yukiko continued, but the young innkeeper sometimes stuttered unconfidently. Perhaps using a voice recorder in her presence was a wrong decision. But she had no time to think of it.
"Yukiko-san?" Naoto tapped the table with her pencil.
"Oh? Sorry. Where was I?" Yukiko seemed distraught, searching around. Did she hear something? The girl continued, "He said there are two assassins called 'beasts', both incredibly strong, stronger than that red-haired brat. Though, he didn't know much about them. No one knows about them."
"Did he tell you how they operate?"
Yukiko unrested her hands from her lap and landed on the table, "Sho didn't tell me which one, but one of them used some kind of marking. Invisible, but once you touch it, the mark remains as long as the beast wanted. And those who bore his mark will be at his mercy."
"Does he show you how it looks like?" Naoto pushed for more details.
"I don't think Minazuki knows about it. He was rather afraid of telling me," The long-haired girl shrugged, knowing nothing more. "Anyway, he began leaking about this supposed experiment, and it's..."
A marking? Yukiko ignored her stares and kept her mouth running, though something about the mark bothered her.
Junpei Iori was to be sent here tomorrow. Is he still bearing this 'mark'?
Rainy - Night - 1/12/2012(Saturday) - Motel east of Inaba
(6 days before Strife's arrival)
"Yeah, okay. Sorry to disturb you," Junpei Iori nodded, sitting on his chair in his motel room, "Thanks. No, everything's fine. I just had something to ask her."
Labrys, watching him from afar, said nothing. After the incident with Yosuke, it was difficult to explain to Junpei the state of her drenched clothes. As if it wasn't enough, Naoto failed to return the call for her latest intent. Junpei, who knew half of his purpose here, became aggressive in his question upon her insisting call. It just wasn't right for him.
"No use?" Labrys asked when he finished the conversation. Junpei shook his head. It seemed even Kanji didn't know the detective's whereabouts.
The man was sweating and restless in his tank top despite the cold weather. For a moment, she was afraid to taunt him, testing his frustration and rage. Labrys shifted awkwardly in her guest chair, wanting to break the mood.
The rain grew heavier, chill puffed from Junpei's breath, something Labrys suffered none of.
"We need to rest for tomorrow," Labrys commented, "Maybe Naoto-san will turn up."
Junpei only nodded, yet Labrys remained in her chair. The batter said nothing, expecting not objection if she stayed.
She had no idea how far she could trust Naoto's plan, but something bad is happening. Her instinct told her the enemy knew their capabilities from the start. Did they already know Tatsuya was baiting them? Or were they always aiming for the ace detective first for being a threat?
Where was Naoto Shirogane currently?
"Okay, I'll tell you what I know," Labrys finally spoke. Junpei turned to her instantly in anticipation, "But you can't let Kirijo-san know about this."
The batter finally curved his lips, "Our secrets."
Naoto Shirogane
Night - 1/12/2012(Saturday) - Interrogation Room
(6 days before Strife's arrival)
Naoto glanced at her bleeding nails, wondering what she clawed to receive such injuries. Something cold would have stopped the redness, but with one wrist cuffed to the table, asking for it is ridiculing the police.
"Are you done checking your nails?"
She glanced up at the interrogator in the dimly lit room. A quick look at the large two-way mirror on her left shown her tattered shirt, bruise on her neck and lips, uncleaned since arriving here.
"Yes. I am ready, sir," Naoto bowed, feeling a pair of eyes piercing her. The interrogator, as if satisfied, began stacking a few paper bags, filled with evidence for the attempted murder.
The murder she was framed for. No use trying to argue openly.
"Naoto Shirogane. Let's start from the beginning," The interrogator began exposing the first object, "Do you recognized this?"
She shook her head at the gun used in the incident. The interrogator continued, "It's illegal to possess a firearm at your age."
"That gun is not mine."
"Clearly you're the only one to use it. Purchased at the dark web. No fingerprint, smart. But you miss the servant there, didn't you? Coincidentally, it was the same type we found on your possession."
"It was a model gun. Even if I do possess the gun, why would I keep the real and identically fake one with me?"
"To fool us, pretending to have a fake while you shot the mayor with the real one?" The interrogator added, "What about the signal tower? The roof? And the cafe where Namatame went? Explain from the beginning. Where were you, when the bomb was placed?"
She recalled the minutes in her own residence that evening, accepting the cursed challenge for the first time...
Sunny - Evening - 1/12/2012(Saturday) - Shirogane Residence, Inaba
"...Information provided to you is legit. I hope you are wise enough to believe my intelligence stated above. Hastened your chase, else you're losing Sho Minazuki again.
Best of luck, Kirijo.
-"W"
Naoto breathed a relief sign as she closed her small laptop. Staying anonymous was the best way to safeguard Yukiko's link to Sho. If that man was defeated in Sumaru, there's a high chance he's still resting in his hideout. Her relief was cut short when she realized the signal connection was lost. Well, the message was sent.
Her mind eventually wandered to the two members of Shadow Operative in town. A single glance at her newly acquired blue blouse laid on her bed proved enough that Teddie was the idea behind Labrys's gift. Knowing that silly bear, she could pretty much guess the big gift Yosuke received. Poor guy...
But there was another reason she sent the machine to find Yosuke. The ressentiment captain was the only one who ever asked their leader about Hitoshi's 'counseling'. Whether Yu answered the question is up to Labrys to find out. For now, she had a better task at hand.
Today, the hunt for the beast began.
Junpei Iori was genuinely delighted staying in Inaba. The excitement he made seeing the beds of flowers on the streets added extra guilt within her. The batter still didn't comprehend the true reason he was sent here. The way Tatsuya's letters described Junpei's role was harsh:
"I didn't ask Kirijo to send Junpei Iori to Inaba to help with your investigation. I sent him to your place as bait.
I believe that this Beast had the ability to vaguely control people's minds. Based on my report, all the accused in a crime I suspected his involvement with had, in a way, made physical contact with this man. His persona, or himself, must have the skill to do so. Of course, there's no way to prove it by evidence. Junpei was spared for a reason. If Umashi truly is the man who attacked Junpei, he must have left a mark on him for manipulation. I suggest Kirijo send Junpei away to make sure he won't subconsciously be Umashi's spy in Shadow Operative.
Don't let Umashi make physical contact with you, nor summon his persona in your presence. Watch Junpei closely, the Beast might use him.
This is just a theory. And beware, for there are two brothers. As a fellow detective, I trust this to you..."
'And if he controls Junpei-san, it's proof that he controls Yu-senpai too...' Naoto muttered, clenching her fist in suppressed rage. Yu was certain to meet his appointment with Umashi today. Was sending Labrys away unsupervised a good move? The machine disliked the thoughts of secrecy from her friends, and her feelings were mutual.
Naoto had no idea Junpei's length of stay here, seeing as this 'bait' was sudden. It might be necessary to expose the batter's presence to the man in question. But this task was too big for her. No use thinking about it, she just had to ensure the trap for this beast is big enough to defeat him. She is a detective, now a hunter.
The question is; how will she catch this monster?
Naoto jumped when she heard the front door ringing. Nobody was at the front, but something was inside the mailbox.
She knew then that the beast was already onto her first. Shutting the windows, she dropped the fragrant envelope on her table and immediately noticed two photos upon opening it. The first photo was a small mechanical object she assumed to be a bomb, linked together with a mobile phone. There was also a strange volume meter attached to it. A sound trigger? It displayed 2:06:56 on it. The small bomb stuck in a narrow space, dark and confined. Where is this?
On the back of the bomb photo was a note:
It's easy to claim yourself a genius. But the world is a broadened space. You wondered again and again if I am someone who envies you. The opposite, actually. I'm intrigued. Are you as good as you claimed you are, ace detective? Or perhaps you have yet to meet your intellectual superior?
Tonight, someone will die from this explosion. This photo was taken at 5 in the evening. The clues begin in the second photo. Don't disappoint me, ace detective. Tell no one."
"Bastard..." Naoto cursed. Someone will die to prove her a point. A challenge? The beast will have it. Naoto glanced at the wall clock. The countdown will stop at 7:06 pm.
The second picture was of something tall using a bird's eye view. At the center was an envelope with number 1 stuck with adhesive tape. It was as if the photo was taken from the ground viewing the evening sky. It was the perspective that confused her. Was this place high, or low? Wherever this place was, she will find it.
She leaped to her feet and began suiting herself before hesitation began to grip her mind. The last warning from Tatsuya's letter returned to her.
"...As a fellow detective, I trust this to you. But remember, the one they called the beast, the assassin of Revelation, is a crafty foe. If you feel outpaced and underprepared, wait for my arrival instead."
And there's the secret hint the vice chief shared with her at the end, but she rather not risk it. Naoto knew this is a trap as soon as the photos were sent. But she knew the sender wasn't feigning about his threats. What if this is an entirely different challenger? Where should she go from here? It felt easy from the front, but what lurks in this challenge?
Something in her mind just decided for her. A life was threatened, that was reason enough for her action. Risked it, as a detective should.
She stepped outside her house, marching towards the biggest mistake she'll ever make.
Interrogation room
"When this bomb was placed, you were saying that you're already at home?" The interrogator said.
"I don't even know where the bomb is at the time."
"You could have put it there. It was-"
"The photo was taken with a talented hand. I don't even remember the last time I held a camera."
"Shirogane-san, there's still no proof this photo exists."
"It was in my pocket," Naoto insisted.
"Nothing but words," The interrogator sank back to the chair, "Let's talked about when the mayor was away from home."
She remained silent as the interrogator continued.
"Namatame was at the conference when this bomb was placed. He was dialing his secretary about the dinner with Ame Hitoshi, which was replaced with his brother Umashi Hitoshi at the last minute. The signal was lost. He was forced to go to the market nearby by himself.
"And what do you know? When the signal was lost, you're just happened to be at the signal tower. For one hour, the house was empty. You broke into his house and placed the bomb. So tell me, why were you there?"
Naoto took a deep breath, "It was the location depicted on the second photo."
"In a signal tower?"
"Bottom of it."
The signal transmission tower
The location was moderately easy. She was more baffled by the method the sender used to put the envelope below the control panel box, yet left no footprint anywhere on the grassy ground. The signal tower blocked out most of the dimming sunlight as a few trees around it raced to overwhelm the peak. No wonder the communication had worsened these few days.
When she pulled off the envelope from the adhesive tape with a bit of force, however, it was too late for her to notice the thin metal wires linked to the inside of the paper. It snapped before a loud noise was heard from the control panel. Something flickered inside the meter.
"No!" Naoto yelped, removing her jacket and covered her hand. When she swung down the main switch, the noise finally decreased, followed by a smell of smoke. Another trap laid bare, though she didn't understand the purpose of cutting off the signal line. To hinder her?
She opened the new envelope and found a tiny metal plate, linked to the metal wire earlier. The new photo was much more difficult to examined. It was the image of a large, black fan, placed somewhere where two giant trees, replicants of countless others, overshadowed by the moving fan. Where is this?
She began packing her stuff and moved, frustrated that she lost half an hour to reach here. Naoto glanced back at the control panel after wiping clean all fingerprints and obscured the shoeprints. Could she outrun this?
"Or..." An idea crossed her mind. What if she hunts the killer instead?
"Someone did come to check on it shortly after. Namatame was already at Junes at this time. The metal wire was linked to one of the fuses inside. Left alone, the whole place would trip."
"So you start to believe me?"
"Not yet. Your time didn't match ours. The connection was already lost long before that. It was the off switch and the maintenance that assisted in restoring power. We still have the third picture in your narrative. How did you know its location, Shirogane?"
"When I decided to change the game."
"You still insist on the presence of another killer?"
"A true killer."
"Then where do you start?"
Naoto took out the first picture again and took a deep breath.
"The first envelope smelled of jasmine flower. The black ink was moderate quality, and there was a glass stain on the right side of the picture... The second picture shared the same fragrance, but no glass stain, no writing on it. That means..."
She clenched it tight and ran to her next destination.
"...It means he's supposed to be where I assume him to be."
Cafe, Central Shopping District
"I'm sorry, but there were a lot of customers," The bartender answered, "And I can't just tell you everything."
"Just those who ordered your jasmine tea, this one," Naoto pressed a finger on the menu in front of the counter, "This guy must have written something while sitting here. A letter. Anyone is fine."
The bartender pondered for a moment, "Some guy did order a jasmine tea at the back there, writing something."
"His dress? Any noticeable brand?"
"He wears a casual shirt, and I'm sure he had a Junes shopping bag with him."
"And you can't describe his face, at all?" Naoto insisted. The bartender shook his head.
"Hold on, one bartender can't even recall one face?"
"We passed through hundreds, maybe thousands of faces every day walking outside. That doesn't mean we remember every face."
"So you give up the chase, and retrace your tracks to the location shown on the third picture."
Naoto surveyed the fully occupied cafe before stepping outside, finally realizing the locations of two giant trees after glancing at the tall plants.
"I didn't say I give up the chase, though."
Junes
A dancing contest, in the middle of a shopping mart? Naoto shook her head at the crowds gathered in front of the stage. A life was threatened, and Teddie and Tengu were busy competing on the stage. Still, this fight was hers to make. No use dragging more people into this mess. She caught a glimpse of Yukiko and Chie among them but saw no sight of Yosuke and Labrys.
Hoping no one saw her climbing to the rooftop, Naoto barged into the area filled with tall trees and overgrown plants. Without the giant woods towering the mall next to it, this could be a truly beautiful garden with a variety of flowers growing from the fences. She immediately took note of a pair of trees in front of Junes. The one ventilation fan caught her attention.
"It was behind the ventilation fan. That's why you're on the roof."
"Precisely."
"Curious, seeing as Namatame was there that day as well, shopping for his dinner. Was chasing the killer an excuse to match the time period?"
"Learn what the fourth picture is about first."
Naoto leaped upon the roof closest to the shaft entrance with ease agility and a chair. True enough, a small envelope stuck to the bottom of the shaft was seen behind the high speeding fan.
"But if the picture was behind the fan. How did you retrieve it?"
"Well, I would support my friend's competition if it makes him happy, but I was desperate."
Naoto heard loud rantings on the ground floor as she switched off the power at the far corner of the roof. She hurriedly rushed to the slowed ventilation fan and took out the envelope. By the time she switched on the power outage, her back was sweating from constant running. Thankfully, the weather was cold.
"How long am I doing this?" She hissed, glancing at her watch. Only less than an hour left before the countdown on the bomb. There's no more time. How many pictures more?
She checked the envelope and realized the game was shorter and, unfortunately, harder than she assumed.
It was the picture of a man, likely taken in secret, talking to someone as they walked through the street.
She realized then the mayor was the target.
"It was the picture of the Taro Namatame, my last clue."
"Taken on the same day?"
"I don't believe so."
"And you assumed it's the last clue, Shirogane?"
"The man walking beside him in that picture was Umashi Hitoshi, the true culprit."
Naoto gritted her teeth, seeing the empty spot at the back. No more clue.
"Namatame..." Naoto muttered. There was something more, something hidden within the four pictures shown, as well as the locations. The bomb, signal tower, Junes Rooftop, and Namatame.
Interrogation Room
"...Which brings you to the end," The interrogator crossed both arms and leaned back, "To Namatame's mansion."
"I tried dialing him, but no answer," Naoto dropped her arms to her lap, trying to suppress the throbbing pain on her fingernails, "But I realized rather than confronting Namatame and the culprit killer, I should break down all the clues first. I retraced my steps and reexamined the bomb picture again. Added with the signal tower, I realized it was activated by sound."
"On a bomb with a countdown," The interrogator sneered.
"The countdown was real, but not the timer. The bomb will explode at seven using a sound meter," She crossed her legs and pressed her chin, but realized her hand was still cuffed, "What place is loud enough to trigger the bomb?"
"A dinner? A party?" The interrogator suggested.
"Namatame was having a large dinner tonight. Must be loud enough for it so, but..." She closed her eyes, "I was too naive... I've forgotten about the other clues on my way leaving the rooftop because I saw it. Not far from the door, a patch of jasmine flower was cut with a knife. The same smell on the first picture."
"So this culprit wasn't at the cafe."
She nodded, "He was on the roof, writing those challenges."
"So who's the guy the bartender saw at the cafe earlier?"
"It was Namatame himself. You recalled a face better if alone. He was with friends at a time. I didn't know Namatame had a large dinner at the time, of course. Which, I believed, prompt the next clue."
"How did you come to that conclusion?"
"When I arrived at his house later. He was writing letters to someone in the city."
The interrogator smiled, almost mockingly, "Congratulations, you were right. Namatame did visit the cafe that evening, shortly after going to Junes. He didn't manage to finish his drink before rushing out."
"Meaning by the time I arrived at Junes for the fourth picture, Namatame had already gone shopping and take a quick break at the cafe." Naoto rapidly spoke, "Which means, there's no way I could have put the bomb in his house within the short period of time."
"Now, hold on. Namatame did write something at the cafe, directed to his colleagues at public office to announce his election. How did you know that?"
Naoto sighed, "He was finally elected?"
"Tomorrow, actually. That letter was for them."
"I thought as much. There's a newly brought flowers at his house to commemorate it."
"You think of all this during your path to Namatame's mansion?" The interrogator nodded, "If you're really innocent, then not bad."
She felt humiliated by his words instead, "I didn't think too hard. I thought dinner would be loud enough to trigger it, but I didn't make the connection to the real switch. All I think of was pulling Namatame to safety."
"The real switch," The interrogator chuckled, "You're telling a bizarre story, yet too specific. But even if I do believe you, I can't say the same for them."
Naoto glanced at the two-side mirror again.
The interrogator leaned forwards, "I do have my doubt about the whole thing. Because we do found the bomb you speak off, detective. Did the bomb fail to kill the mayor, hence you resort to the gun? Or were you trying to stop it because of the sudden storm?"
Naoto gritted her teeth, "You may judge me once you have my full story."
"By all means, continue. About the bomb..."
"It was gas-based."
The interrogator smiled, "So you do remember."
Naoto rubbed her fingers again, "The shaft picture provides the clue. Link it to the first picture and it suddenly makes sense. I realized a bit too late about it, and..."
Naoto glanced at her hands again. Was she forgetting something?
Cloudy - Namatame's Residence
The old white mansion was decorated until there's not a trace of its ages on the two-storied walls. The young woman, possibly his secretary, was rather intimidated by her presence at the front gate. She glanced at the watch and realized she still had 10 minutes left before seven at night.
"Is Taro Namatame here?" Naoto spoke, out of breath.
"I'm sorry, but he will be having dinner shortly with Hitoshi-san. please come by later-"
"No! Don't let them!" Naoto grabbed the gate's metal bar a little too fierce, forcing the secretary to step a few steps backward. Naoto took another deep breath and composed her voice, "Tell him Naoto Shirogane have something important to tell him. Just do."
"They brought you in. This is true," The interrogator said.
"I need to see for myself to tie up all the clues."
The rows of flowers along with the front door instantly made her realized Namatame's schedule. The mayor, the official mayor, was celebrating his election. 'Could it be?' Naoto pondered.
She was not fond of the secluded room on the southern part of the mansion. It was clearly a storeroom but was renovated to access the splendor view of the mountain range, where the train rails were almost invisible from afar.
One look at the jasmine teapot on the table was enough to trigger her memories of the first picture. Namatame, dressed in a cobalt blue shirt, was sitting in front of Umashi Hitoshi; several dishes on the table produced a strong odor. At the far end of the table was a small envelope, addressed to someone from the next city. It was then Naoto realized the missing clue.
"You've arrived at a most inconvenient moment, detective," the mayor curved his lips, though his eyes clearly baffled at her interruption. He gestured at the man opposite him, "Hitoshi-san here is joining our dinner, though I'm afraid his brother is not available at the moment."
She clenched her fist. Was she baited? The culprit was in truth at the roof, but it led her to the cafe by the tea fragrance. It was no coincidence.
Umashi Hitoshi nodded with wicked eyes upon eye contact, as if provoking her. Yes, something was still amiss. Find it, fast. There's no time.
She hurried her surveillance and immediately caught sight of the small ventilation shaft on the upper wall to her left, above the small wooden cabinet.
"Apologize for the intrusion, Namatame-san, Umashi-san," Naoto bowed, then sprang to the ventilation shaft, "I'm making quick investigation, please don't mind me."
She ignored the puzzled looks on them as she dragged a chair and open the shaft. The detective finally smiled seeing the blinking red timer at the end of the confined vent. The sound meter next to it was gradually rising. Odd, did she made too much noise here, "Namatame-san, may I ask a couple of questions? Did you went to a cafe today?"
Namatame furrowed his eyebrows, "How did you know that? I was writing to my colleagues from the city at that time until Umashi-san's insistence on eating dinner early. I was officially the mayor tomorrow, though my career truly began next year."
So he's the one at the cafe. Naoto gave her hypothesis, "You drink a jasmine tea, but the smell was abnormally strong for you, otherwise, you could already smell the foul odor from the shaft as soon as you walked in. I believe Umashi-san brought you there."
"Please elaborate, detective," Umashi crossed his arms, staring intensely at her.
Naoto dropped the four pictures on the table. Namatame paled at his photo and the bomb shown on it. The mayor glanced at the shaft, "What's going on here, Shirogane?"
"An attempt at your life," Naoto explained, "The signal tower was there to show that it was signal transmission for the bomb trigger, the envelope behind the fan to explain it was in the ventilation shaft," She surveyed the enclosed room, "I'm assuming it was gas base. Bringing that tea was a mistake."
"I don't understand," Namatame stood up, "I went there for a cup of tea. That's it."
"Lower your voice, please. I'll explain later, but we need to leave," She pulled Namatame's hand, "Now, we need to-"
She didn't realize when a small locking sound was heard from the door.
"It's locked! Who did this?!" Namatame shouted, turning the doorknob unsuccessfully, "Shirogane, what will happen?!"
"Calm down, don't make too much noise," Naoto pulled the mayor away. She shifted her attention to Umashi and glared, "Release the lock."
"I don't think you're talking to the right guy," Umashi answered, trying to slide the window open, before relent, "Windows locked too."
Doubt began to infest her. If he truly was the culprit, why risk locking himself too? Naoto opened her mouth to accuse but something silenced her.
The sudden rain and thunder washing over the mansion and yard breeze through in a blink of an eye. The heavy thunder bombed through the room. She felt her blood ran cold at the progressively rapid beeping sound coming from the vent. A white smoke spread itself over the room.
"Poisonous gas!" Naoto screamed, checking her watch. She didn't expect the thunderstorm to pour so suddenly!
It only took seconds before her breathing became difficult. The lines from earlier finally connected. she began dialing the first person in her mind.
"This is a trap..." Namatame coughed, picking up the chair, "Hitoshi-san, move!" He slammed it on the window, but it wouldn't budge.
"Where's your secretary?" Umashi asked.
"I sent her away after she brought you in (turning to Naoto) to get some wine," The mayor spoke, still gasping for air, "Why can't I break the window?"
"You're not thinking straight," Naoto gasped. She checked the phone and realized it was exactly the moment the timer went off.
Where's the switch? The room? She kicked down the chair and tables and saw none of it. The beeping sound from the shaft didn't cease. The dinner Namatame had was smaller than expected. Was she wrong? Where would be the loudest place before the thunderstorm arrived?
Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind.
"A mass gathering, like a contest..." She widened her eyes. If there was something the culprit gave to either Teddie or Tengu, wouldn't it be...? "Prize? Trophy?"
Immediately, she flipped open her phone. Umashi was sitting on the ground, his cough worsened. Colors had drained from Namatame's skin. In a minute, the entire room will be engulfed in the white gas.
"Come on, Yosuke, pick up..." She cursed. She picked the second number when nobody answer. Thankfully, it's connected.
"Yes, Naoto?"
"Yukiko! Is Teddie or Tengu there?!" Naoto prayed she deduced it correctly, "Do they receive any trophy from a stranger?!"
"Huh?" Yukiko was silent for a while, "Yeah, Teddie's holding it right now. How do you know-"
"Destroy it!" Naoto sighed in relief for her deduction, "Destroy it now! It's a switch! It's..."
She felt her hand weakened. Her phone fell to the concrete floor as her vision blurred. Was it too late?
The beeping sound abruptly ceased. She saw a faint outline of Namatame on the floor. Umashi Hitoshi was standing by the window, watching her.
She forced her eyes open when she heard something unlocked at the door. She tried to scream, but it was agonizing to do so. It felt like an eternity. Struggling to stand, she watched Umashi again.
A man with a silver beast mask was watching her by the window, the place where Umashi was standing earlier.
"Well done, detective. Yukiko broke the switch in the trophy," The man with a silver mask spoke, "Though you made a few errors, things normal people couldn't possibly comprehend. You impressed me still. To connect all pieces in less than two hours deserved my respect."
"Umashi-san?" Naoto found her own voice too weak to be heard. She reached for her gun in her back pocket and tried aiming at him, only to drop it quickly to the ground. Half-dazed, she searched for it on the floor.
"The first mistake, you shouldn't follow me to the cafe. Now, there was evidence of your presence at the cafe. In fact, there was evidence of you everywhere the crime scene is."
She found the grip and quickly aiming it at the figure.
"With that fake gun?" The silver Beast tilted his head at her. "I'm no fool."
"How are you not affected?" She gripped her gun with two trembling hands. Fortunately, her breathing had recovered.
"Because I know it was merely a tobacco smoke," The beast answered, "Quite dangerous too, in truth. But it affected you much more because you perceived it as such. If you hadn't seen the bomb, you wouldn't be affected by it either."
"Because you control me?" She took a stronger breath this time.
"The second mistake, you assume I control your actions and mind. One of them is half correct," The Beast said, "For once, you own your defeat to Suou's misinformation. You failed to notice your tracks lead to every evidence I laid today."
"What do you..." Naoto widened her eyes. "The signal..."
"You disrupted the signal when you went there, preventing communication from this room until it's too late."
"Was the rooftop there for writing envelopes?"
The beast barked a laugh, "You didn't smell the tobacco growing on the opposite side of the roof. The knifed jasmine patch is a distraction from the true smell. That's where I harvest it."
"Namatame at the cafe was to break my alibi."
"Because you ask the bartender about the writing man, they will assume you're looking for Namatame."
"Unless the police found the picture..." She checked her pocket for the picture and felt it still, though her eyes were watering as she aimed at the figure. The beast became a blurred figure as he revealed something in front of him.
A tarot card.
Naoto wasted no time pulling the trigger. The shocking recoil jerked her awake. Since when was her fake gun load such power? Smokes fumed from the barrel while the rest of the smokes receded.
What stood in front of her was no man with a beast mask. Namatame, who was walking to the window, bore his eyes on her amidst the receding smokes with his ashen face. The small hole on his upper left chest slowly bled red on his blue shirt. What stunned her the most was the fallen Umashi, who was slowly regaining his consciousness. A small realization came to her.
Umashi was wearing a different outfit than the Silver Beast.
"Impossible..." Those were the only word escaping her mouth. Was Tatsuya's judgment false? There was no time to analyze it. Someone's life is in danger. "Namatame-san!"
The mayor collapsed, gasping for air when the doorknob twisted.
"Sir?" She heard a voice from the door. "Namatame-san, why is the door..."
The secretary from earlier slowly pushed open the door, carrying with her a small bottle of sake. What she witnessed made her dropped the glass bottle, shattering it. Naoto was holding the gun, while Namatame was on the floor with Umashi slowly regaining his consciousness nearby.
The secretary screamed.
"N-No! It's not a real gun! Wait!" But the secretary sprinted away without listening to a word from her. She crouched down and pressed both palms on the gun wound.
"Just stay still! I'm getting help!" Naoto gritted her teeth in frustration. Everything went wrong today. How?
Someone was chuckling. She turned to see Umashi standing still, watching her like a disappointed father.
"You should've expected me to risk my own life for this," Umashi coughed as he spoke, "The Mark of the Beast was already on you when you opened the letters."
Mark of the Beast?
"What are you going to do now?" Umashi dusted away the smoke stain on his shoulder, "Are you done?"
Interrogation Room
Something's not right.
"No..." Naoto examined her hands again, "The gun was fake, but it became real in that room."
"Elaborate please." The interrogator said.
"The gun, it became real because Namatame perceived it as such, like... in the TV world." Naoto gasped, "There was no real gun!"
Naoto glanced at the gun on the table, then on her bloodied fingers as the interrogator continued.
"Finish the story, Naoto Shirogane. What happened in the end?"
Naoto closed her eyes, fear drowning her. The dried redness on the tip of her fingers forced her to pull out everything within her mind. Her breath ragged as she put an end to her investigation.
"I ran."
Namatame's mansion
Naoto stumbled upon the backyard, wondering her next move. The yard was broad, yet the dusk bury the town in its darkness blinded her.
Naoto felt something sharp piercing her head from behind. She stumbled, strength draining away from her limbs instantaneously. Chaotic emotions overwhelmed her till her breath became ragged.
As she rested on the grass, the sound of footprints approached her. She forced herself to glance up at the silver beast-man. The culprit tilted his head, waiting for something.
"That's it, rest now," He smiled, crouching in front of her, "You should be honored. I rarely pursuit my prey before they strike first."
"You're... not Umashi. You're the one who locked the door," Naoto forced the word out. "How?"
"You're a detective, it's your job to think. If you survive this encounter, you would find this little game of ours extremely beneficient. All you need is a firm deduction," She felt him grinning behind the mask, "I have an acquaintance delight to meet you. Don't worry, it'll be quick... Oh?"
Naoto immediately leaped to him with all the strength she had, grabbing his left palm. The black leather glove was almost impossible to pull off. But she had to verify.
She had to understand Tatsuya's words at the end of his letter.
"There's a risk to take should everything falls apart, though I will not recommend them as of yet. But if by chance you are trapped with the beast with a silver mask, look for an arrow mark on the back of his left hand."
"What are you doing, detective?" The silver beast-masked man tried to pry her away. She pulled harder, digging her nails into his hand. Naoto almost fainted by the sudden knee strike to her abdomen. She resisted still and, finally, removed the glove, his blood at the tips of her fingers.
"Oh? Suou told you about the mark."
Those were the only words she heard as she fell to the ground. He knew her motive now. But if she's trapped, might as well take something with her.
She glanced at the exposed left hand.
Interrogation Room?
Naoto examined her bloodied fingertips and, for the first time, looked closer at the bare hands of the interrogator.
The pale black arrow-shaped mark was faintly visible on his left hand, four lines of scratches traveling from the wrist to his joint fingers.
"You finished the story?" The 'interrogator' smiled, "Do you find what you're looking for?"
She felt like waking up from a deep slumber. The silver-masked beast sat in front of her this whole time, and all of a sudden the table vanished together with the room. Two chains bind her on the wrists, tying her to a steel chair in the middle of a dark, lonely jail. The walls were grey concrete, tall ceiling, but incredibly clean like the jail had never been empty.
The silver-masked beast sat on another steel chair, outside the bar, all items with him disappeared. He wore the same dark dress as he did at Namatame's mansion, but was comfortable enough to export his scarred hands.
"You kidnapped me," Naoto hissed.
"No. You followed me, willingly," The silver Beast shook his head, "But I supposed you don't remember that too."
"They're going to look for me," Naoto said, jerking upward but the chains forced her to her chair.
"Yes, yes they will," He stood up and dragged his chair away, "And when they do, you won't be the same again."
"I'll remember this encounter," Naoto forced a laugh, "And I will stop you from harming my friends."
"Ah, you think too small," Out of nowhere, he revealed a camera and aimed it at her, "I won't harm them, but I can't say the same for you. I told you..."
He snapped a picture, its flashlight forced her to blink.
"...I have an acquaintance eager to meet you."
She frowned, sensing another presence approaching from the right. No footsteps, no breath, and the aura were hauntingly inhuman.
Dark violet fogs trailed its gigantic humanoid feature. A pair of spiraling iris was a few feet towering above the silver beast. Naoto forced a shriek, but fear overwhelmed her. The creature was disintegrating and reforming itself, but the sparks of star-like dust over the creature's body drained her deep into it, almost mesmerizing.
"She's yours, as promised," The beast gestured towards her.
"Lovely vessel, Behemoth," The creature spoke with a deep voice. She swore the creature was beaming with excitement, "Our alliance will continue."
"Ensure she's ready for tomorrow," Behemoth responded, "We still need her."
"I will make her into a powerful being," The stardust on his face glowed brightly in excitement, "It is my promise, my vessel. We will know each other for a while."
The beast masked man called Behemoth had left the jail, leaving the stars-filled creature with her. After a moment of observation, it passed through the bar with ease. Naoto realized her fate was sealed.
"Who are you?" She mustered her last words.
"I am the one who governs the stars," The monster engulfed her as he answered, "And soon, the black rider will own it to me to have it all."
She didn't have the strength to scream.
Light Rainy - Late Night - Amagi Inn
Yukiko laid on her bed, staring at the ceiling. The scene of the broken hare trophy still occupied her mind. Naoto knew something, but she never answered her call. Tomorrow, she will have to show the object to Yu. Surely he knew what to do. Perhaps nothing happened to Naoto, and she was overthinking it. She pulled up her blanket and forced her eyes closed.
"No, dear. You are not overthinking..."
She leaped from the bed and switched on the light. That returning voice wasn't some delusion. The door to her wardrobe swung open, with the bird peeking out and studied her.
"Yuki-nee?" Tengu watched with anxious eyes.
"Please tell me you said something just now," Yukiko pleaded.
Tengu, almost frightened, slowly shook his head.
"Great! Just great," Yukiko's breathed in deep, "I'm hearing stuff in my head, and now she starts using a different voice!"
Her panic decreased at the sight of puzzled Tengu slowly closing the wardrobe.
"Oh, what's happening to me?" Yukiko sighed, switching off the light again, "Sorry for scaring you, Tengu. Go to sleep."
The voice wasn't there, but the stress remained heavy in her mind. She felt drained, even yawning couldn't lull her to sleep.
"Count the stars, Yuki-nee."
Yukiko turned to the closed wardrobe.
"Someone I know used to say, just count the stars." Tengu's voice was abnormally human, unlike his usual tone, "When you count enough, the stars will call you, and you'll be sleepy."
"There's a roof above us though."
"Of course, please forgive your foolish servant."
There was silence. Yukiko regretted stopping him.
"Why, Tengu? Why count the stars? Why not sheep?"
There was a strange pause before he answered, "An old friend said everyone likes to wish upon the stars. But they're wrong, everyone becomes stars when they died."
"That's... interesting," She didn't expect the sudden grimness.
"So we're wishing upon dead people that still watching us, helping us."
"Okay, forget I ask. You can sleep-"
"Which means, if you ask them to sleep, they'll help you. Because you'll join them together inside the dream... Oh, forgive me, Yuki-nee! I sprouting bitter stuff again!"
"Never mind, you are forgiven," Unfortunately, it made her zealously pondered about it, forcing her awake. "This friend has a name, Tengu?"
"...I forgot her name," A strange lamentation resounded in his answer. Yukiko pretended to ignore the lies. 'Her'? Amaterasu?
"Tengu, what did Amaterasu- I mean, what did I do with Tsukiyomi?"
The silence trailing it was longer.
"Tengu?"
A strange noise resounded from the wardrobe. Yukiko lifted her head, watching his sleeping chamber in the dark.
"...You both picked a different side in the Great War, one chose the white butterfly, another black..." His voice was oddly harrowing, "The Kotoamatsukami had a promise to keep long ago. A secret best left hidden. Roles that shouldn't be... Izanagi and Izanami... weren't meant to be here..."
The snoring afterward forced her words down her throat.
A/N: This one is relatively short compared to my previous chapters, but faster update this time.
Naoto is captured by the Beast and given to an entity. Who are this new presence and its relation to the prophecy?
As the voice slowly resounding in Yukiko's head, what secret does Tengu knows?
Not much to explain in this chapter, but the next one will be longer. Please wait for the slow update.