Author's Note: Now we come to envy. I kept getting distracted while writing this but I made it work. I have so many ideas running around in my head for this season. I am itching to write more. There's going to be more after I wrap up with the seven deadly sin fights. I am thinking about doing a Christmas special with both this fic and my -Man fic, End of Days. I will have to see as I work out the ideas. I can't wait to work on next week's halo.


VI: Envy

Halo Sixteen: Izaya:

Kitano got the email early this morning. The subject line read "You Have Competition for the Tadpoles". The therapist shrugged over his matcha tea. His source pulled through after all. Time to see what they found. He opened the message.

No text. Just a video. Kitano clicked on the file.

A pale and skinny woman sat on the floor. The front of her white gown was covered in something like blood. Her bright blonde hair covered her face. A man in a plague doctor suit walked up to her. He placed gloved hand down onto her head. The man spoke in Russian. There were no subtitles in the clip. He lifted the woman's head. She let off a loud hiss.

Despite the grainy image, Kitano could clearly see her fangs. He studied the video closely.

In the video, the woman lunged forward for a bite. The man pushed her back. He said something else in Russian. There came more hisses and growls. The man patted her on the head. He turned back to the camera and started talking. This time, it was in English. Japanese subtitles popped up on the screen.

"This is Valya," he said. "She is our daughter. We will have her consume the tadpoles. You forced our hand, Kitano-sensei. You bought this on you." The video clip ended. That wasn't the only video in the email. Kitano looked at the clock at the bottom right corner. Only 7:38, huh? He needed to contact his source and watch all the videos before he made his next move.


Nakamura gave Natsuko an odd look.

"What are you talking about?" he asked. The journalist grinned like a wild cat.

"Look, look!" she said. Natsuko pulled out her file and opened it up. The detective looked down as the sounds of paper fluttering out. His eyes grew wide.

"Where did you get these?" he asked. Underneath them lay the police photos of the five crime scenes on his case. Each picture was crisp in detail and taken professionally. Natsuko smiled and tapped the side of her nose.

"I have my sources," she said.

"They probably won't hold up in court, you know?" he asked. "I'm already risking my job by coming here. I might get fired for this!" The detective looked around as if he thought the other patrons could be listening. His journalist friend gave him a little smile.

"It's worth it! Just go with me this," Natsuko insisted. She arranged the five crime scene photos on the bar.

"What do you see?" she asked. Nakamura looked down at the photos.

"The bodies," he said.

"And?" Natsuko asked. The detective frowned at her. His old "friend" smiled at him. She pointed down at the pictures.

"Look, look," Natsuko said. Nakamura rolled his eyes.

"What am I looking at?" he asked. She pointed at the first picture. This was Awakusu-san. She lay on the floor, shot. The yakuza wife had been gunned down twice.

"Look at the little plates on the floor," Natsuko said.

"Okay… why?" the detective asked. The journalist pulled up the second photo. This was the soapland girl. The journalist pointed to the sheets in the picture.

"There are little rings here," she said. Natsuko slid out the third picture. This was the body positive YouTuber sitting at her kitchen table.

"The little cakes here," Natsuko said, pointing to them in the picture. She pulled out the fourth picture. This was the CEO who had melted gold poured down his throat.

"The yen coins on the desk," she said. Natsuko pulled out the last photo. This was the old lady in the bathtub. The journalist pointed to the bathroom floor.

"Shower rings on the bathroom floor," she said. Nakamura gave her a strange look.

"So?" he asked. "What is the point you are trying to make?" Natsuko pouted at him.

"Don't you see it?" she asked.

"See what?" the detective asked. Natsuko groaned aloud as the excitement built up inside.

"The circles!" she shouted. "They all have circles in the pictures!" Nakamura took another look at all five of the pictures.

"So? What about them?" he asked. Natsuko's face was now just inches away from his. She grinned like a wild animal by now.

"These are the circles of Hell in Dante's Inferno!" she said. "Think about it!" The detective nearly fell of his stool.

"Gah!" he shouted.

"You get it now, right?" Natsuko asked. Nakamura blinked at her with a confused look on his face.

"How did you get to that conclusion?" he asked. His old "friend" gave him an innocent little shrug.

"It's just a little theory in progress," she said. Nakamura frowned as he stood up.

"And how I am supposed to work with that?" he asked. The journalist paid for her drink and stood up.

"You're the detective," she said. "You have to figure it out yourself." Natsuko bowed her head and walked out of the bar. The detective stared as he walked away. He gritted his teeth. Why did she have to drop off her crazy theories and walk off. But he couldn't get the connection out his head.


Kururi is bored again. When she is bored, she gets creative. Ran wasn't picking up right now. Probably off working for Aozaki and the rest of the Awakusu. The queen bee rolled her eyes. Fine by her. He's making money at least. Not like she wanted his money. Kururi could get her own. Sometimes, sucking up to her brother had its perks. It sucked when he told her no.

She looked at her phone. Who should she make miserable tonight? Aoba? Chiyomi? Chiyomi was probably busy in a love hotel with her new boyfriend. Ikki was committed to his role in this scheme she had running. Maybe a little committed. Did he really love her?

Kururi shook her head. That wasn't her matter to bother with. Aoba it was then. The queen bee remembered a simple request from Tsukiyama.

"You want to do what?" Kururi asked three days ago. Her second-in-command looked nervous at first.

"I mean… it's just a thought," she said. "We don't actually have to do it." Kururi put up her hand. Tsukiyama went quiet.

"Kururi… -san?" she asked. The queen bee looked her in the eye.

"Your proposal an interesting idea," she said. "It just needs some work." Tsukiyama tilted her head.

"What do you mean?" she asked. Kururi gave her a devilish smile.

"Let me set it up," she said. "I will make it worth all of our whiles." Tsukiyama gave her a strange look.

"All?" she asked. Kururi tapped her on the cheek.

"Why yes," she said.

Back in present day, the queen bee made the call. She smiled as she heard the other line ringing.

"Hello?" Aoba asked. Kururi perked up with a devilish smile on her face.

"Hey baby," she said. There was a pause on the other line.

"Hi…" he said slowly.

"I'm so bored and lonely," Kururi said, pouting. There came another pause.

"Kururi, please," Aoba pleaded. "I'm too tired right now." The queen bee frowned. This will not do.

"Come on, please," she said. "Don't leave me to play with my vibrators. I'd rather have fun with you." Kururi knew how to work her boyfriend. Deep down, Aoba was just a typical boy. Boys just want their bruised egos to be built back up. Her brother had been kicking her boyfriend a lot more lately. Maybe, she could boost him back up. He couldn't say no to her after all.

"Aw," Kururi said. "Please? I know nii-san has been tough on you this summer. I just want to give you some stress release. Is that too much to ask?" There was another pause over the phone. Finally, Aoba sighed.

"Fine," he grumbled. "I'll be right over." Kururi smiled like a hungry cat to herself.

"I'll be waiting," she said. The queen bee hung up. She had the guest of honor. Now to get the rest of the posse. Kururi dialed up another number.

"It's me," she said. "Yes, I got him. Come right over." The queen bee grinned to herself as she hung up.


Tsukumoya has been acting weird lately. Izaya frowned as his screen. He hadn't been able to talk to his source of information. However, something has happened. Izaya would ask him the usual questions. Just about the people in Ikebukuro. Tsukumoya answers with no problems. The information broker would ask questions about Tandeki. Again, the AI would answer questions normally.

But then came the next question.

"What can you tell me about the Diss Program?" Izaya typed. Suddenly, Tsukumoya just shut down. No response. No "I don't know". Just… Nothing. Izaya sat back and frowned.

"Hm," he said. "What are you up to now, Tsukumoya?" Suddenly, he heard pounding on the door. The information broker looked up.

"What the hell is that?" Izaya asked. The information broker took out his knife and waled up to the door.

"Who is it?" he asked.

"It's me," a muffled voice said. Izaya looked out the peep hole. Mari stood outside, trembling. A confused look came over his face. The information broker opened the door. Mari rushed inside, pushing past him.

"Mari… -tan?" he asked. Mari flopped down onto the couch and buried her face in her hands. She started to breathe heavily. Izaya walked over to her side.

"Mari-tan?" he asked.

"I screwed up!" she shouted through her hands.

"Huh?" Izaya asked. She looked at him through the cracks of her fingers. Mari broke down trembling. She lowered her hands as she started shaking her head. The programmer looked like she had seen someone get murdered. She tried to speak but her voice came out trembling.

"What are you saying?" Izaya asked. The programmer started to hyperventilate. Her words kept coming out all tangled up. Not even Izaya shaking her shoulder did anything to rouse her. The information broker turned and walked out of the room. When he came back, he had a bottle of beer in his hand.

"Here," he said. Mari snatched up the bottle without thinking. She was quick to drink up. But then she paused and coughed, nearly choking. Izaya rubbed his forehead.

"Oh that's right. You don't drink beer, do you?" he asked. Mari looked up at him, silent. Izaya took a seat next to her.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "What are you doing here?" Mari trembled at first.

"I think I messed up," she finally said. The programmer buried her head in her hands.

"I thought I was so careful!" she wailed. "I should've known they would be watching. Why didn't I think of them?"

"So what happened?" Izaya asked. Mari sighed and dropped her shoulders. She lifted her chin and sniffled.

"You know that I have been decoding the Diss Program, right?" Mari asked.

"Yeah," Izaya said. She took a heavy breath.

"I can't let the program be completed," Mari said. "It'll lead us all to doom faster."

"Then stop working on it," he said with a shrug. She shook her head.

"I can't. They would notice," Mari said. "So I would add new parts to the code by day and erase some of it by night. Just look like progress was going slow." She buried her head in hands and shook her head.

"Why the fuck did I think this was a good idea?!" the programmer wailed.

"And you're sure they've caught on?" Izaya asked.

"Yes!" Mari said. "I might have even put you in danger just by being here!" She had to force herself to calm down before speaking.

"Can I stay here for tonight?" the programmer asked. "Just for tonight will I figure out what to do next. I already have somewhere to disappear to in the morning. This is all going too far. I have to find a way to stop this." The information broker said nothing as she spilled out her panic.

"You haven't slept, have you?" he asked at last. Mari had a blank stare on her face. Izaya took hold of her by the shoulder and led her down the hall. The programmer was silent as she let him lead her away.

Meanwhile, a pair of red glowing eyes watched them from the window. A cold smirk spread across their face.


-Eight Hours Earlier-

A pale man with short dark hair walked up to the doors of Rampo Biotech. His eyes ached as he looked up at the building. This was the place. Anything to try and see again. The man felt around for the door and pushed it open.

The receptionist looked up from her computer when she heard someone coming in. A man felt around in the air for anything to hold onto.

"Excuse me?" she asked. The man paused.

"Yes?" he asked. It didn't take her long to figure out what he needed.

"Are you looking for Lab 528?" the receptionist asked. The pale man perked up.

"Why yes!" he said. "Can you show me the way? I am afraid that my vision is getting worse. I think I might be going blind."

"Sure," she said with caution in her voice. The receptionist came from behind the desk and walked over to the man.

"Follow my voice this way," she said.

"Thank you, darling," the man said. They walked over to the elevator.


Daichi and Osamu were already waiting in the lab.

"I will take this one," Daichi said.

"Go ahead," his partner said. The door started to buzz. Daichi walked keypad and punched in the code. The door slid open. The receptionist stood with the pale man.

"I had to guide him here," she explained. "I will leave you to your business now. Excuse me." She bowed and walked away. The pale man tried to look at who was in front of him.

"Good afternoon, sir," Daichi said. "Right this way." He had to lead their guest into the lab.

"Can you actually get these ugly glasses off of me?" the man asked. "I can't see shit." Daichi looked up and down. His eyes stayed on the large silver-framed glasses. He had to admit that they were a bit gaudy.

"There, there," the younger man said. "We can help you out. Please hold out your hand." The pale man raised his eyebrow.

"What for?" he asked.

"This will help you," Daichi said. "Just hold out your hand." The pale man held out his hand. The younger man opened the pill bottle and dropped the pill into that pale guest's hand. Daichi opened up a bag and held it underneath him.

"This will work, right?" the guest asked.

"Yes," Daichi said. The pale man popped the pill into his mouth. His body shivered and the glasses fell off his face. They fell right into the bag. Daichi quickly closed the bag. Osamu walked around for a look.

"So, how are you doing?" he asked. The pale man blinked and rubbed his eyes. A confused look came over his face.

"Is that what you guys actually look like?" he asked.

"Oh, no, no," Daichi said. "We're just wearing masks. You will have to see our faces outside of work." The pale man thought about that for a moment.

"I might do that some other time," he said at last. "But first, I have something else to do." The pale man turned and walked out the door.

"See you around," he said. The door slid shut behind him. Daichi and Osamu went back to work until they had to go up to Kitano's office.


Nakamura poured over the crime scene photos. Natsuko's words jingled in his head. Could there really be a theme to these seemingly unrelated cases? That didn't make any sense. None of the victims were even connected. But still…

He looked up when he heard the door open. One of his partners stood in the doorway. Nakamura sighed and dropped his shoulders.

"Oh, it's you," he said. His partner cocked her head.

"Still working that case?" she asked.

"Yeah," Nakamura said. "In fact, Suki, could you come over here and look at this?" The detective gave him an odd look as she walked over to him.

"What is it?" she asked. Nakamura moved aside to look at the pictures on the table.

"Do you notice anything about these pictures?" he asked. Suki took a long look.

"What am I looking at?" she asked.

"Do you notice anything in common in the pictures?" Nakamura asked. "Look at them closely." His partner looked down at the pictures in front of her. She raised an eyebrow at looking hard at all five of them.

"Why are there little circles in each picture?" Suki asked.

"Exactly!" Nakamura said. His partner looked at him.

"What does this all mean?" she asked. The main detective put down his pen.

"Tell me, Suki," he said. "Are you familiar with the book The Divine Comedy?" he asked. The female detective took a moment to think.

"I think I have…" she said.

"What about Dante's Inferno?" Nakamura asked.

"I have, actually," Suki said. She paused for a moment. "Wait… Are you saying…?" Her partner shrugged.

"I don't know," he said. "It's just a theory." But his gut was now telling him otherwise.


Izaya frowned as his phones. His inboxes were filled with messages from an unknown number. He tried to block them but the number kept popping back up. Tsukumoya wasn't much help either. The AI wouldn't respond to any questions that he had. Izaya was pretty much alone on this.

Suddenly, the information broker froze and jerked his head around. If Mari was back in his room asleep, then who's in the living room with him? Izaya pulled out his knife.

"Who's there?" he asked. The information broker turned around when he heard giggling. Izaya narrowed his eyes and pointed his knife.

"Well, well, well!" a voice said. "Orihara Izaya! We finally meet at last!" Izaya whipped around to the couch. He spotted a pale man with short dark hair dressed in white robes. He gave him a catlike smirk.

"Yo," he said with a wave.


The heartseed plant started to pulse again. Etsuko and Kitano looked at the dull amber color rippling around like a carousal. At one point, the amber turned to brown. The colors started to spin and blend into waves.

"A new evolution already?" Etsuko asked. "What is this going to lead to?" Kitano pulled out his little black book and began to scan through his notes.

"What are the colors doing again?" he asked. Etsuko narrowed her eyes.

"They keep changing from amber to brown," she said. Kitano looked up and lowered his book.

"I've never seen it do that before," he said. He stood up and walked over to the bonded planet. He ran his finger down the glass.

"This should be interesting," he said. The glowing of the Heartseed grew stronger.


-8:00 a.m.-

Nakamura had to make a statement to the press. He stood with the chief of police at the podium. The detective walked up to the microphone. He took a deep breath.

"Good morning," he said. "We have a potential lead in the case for the Dante Killer."