A/N: We are almost approaching the end of this fanfic. Many thanks to those of you who have followed/favourited the Toji No Miko murder mystery series. As I mentioned earlier, probably this will be the final installment, unless I get a ton of requests to write more mysteries. However, after I finish "Homicide for the Holidays", I want to catch up with other requests I received that I keep on delaying. I need to get them off my checklist.


Chapter 16: More Clues

Of all the places I expected to exist at Hakuchou Manor, a conservatory was not on my list. Attached to the back of the house, the conservatory was a large structure with its walls and roof made entirely of translucent glass. Despite it being probably the bitterest winter ever, in which no plant life would be able to survive, everything in here was in full bloom. It was a beautiful lush place of orange trees and white lilies, filling the air with a citrusy and floral scent. The heat was at first, a welcome change compared to the temperature outside—but then, after only a minute, uncomfortable and muggy. A sheen of perspiration formed on my skin, making my clothes stick to it.

We found Kiyoka seated at a wicker table close to the small stone fountain, which was bubbling quietly. The green leather notebook she was writing in I recognized as the one I found in her room. I guessed she wanted the peace and quiet that the conservatory offered, so as to write her novel. If so, her decision was well-chosen. Here amongst such beauty, one could almost forget that a murder ever happened.

Upon noticing our approach, Kiyoka let out a melancholy sigh. She examined a white lily close to her, letting her fingers play with its delicate petals.

"Isn't it beautiful?" she murmured. "White lilies symbolize purity and innocence—but also lesbian love. A romance seen as forbidden to some. A romance that feels so wrong and yet, so right. Surely, a romance between girls can be just as pure and innocent as these lilies...can't they?"

Her philosophical expression rendered Kanami, Sanae, and I silent, none of us knowing what to say. Kiyoka evidently did not expect a response because she continued on writing as if nothing had happened. But her words had an impact throughout the air. With the faintest blush of understanding, Kanami and I shared a quick glance at each other. I noticed how Sanae's cheeks were redder than ours, probably due to learning about how I did not spend last night in bed alone.

"Is that your novel, Musumi-san?" Kanami asked.

Kiyoka did not meet Kanami's eyes but simply nodded. Taking a seat in the wicker chair across from her, Kanami said, "Musumi-san, we need to ask you something."

The seriousness in her tone made Kiyoka immediately tense up. "Why? I've told you everything I know already. I do not have anything more to tell you."

"It's about the attacks last year," Kanami said.

Now more visibly upset than ever, Kiyoka asked, "What do you want from me?"

"Just tell us what you were doing that day, Musumi-san."

"Nothing. I was—I was reading before it happened. Then after I heard the news, I stayed in my dorm room, locked inside. I—I didn't want to talk with anyone."

"And when you learned about Koike Saaya?" I asked.

Kiyoka only bit her lip. Tears fell onto the pages of her notebook, ruining the ink, but she barely seemed to notice. She only took out a handkerchief and buried her face in it.

Her next words, slightly muffled by her frilly linen article, were, "Nothing. Absolutely nothing, like I told you."

Reaching over and placing a hand on Kiyoka's arm, Kanami reassured, "It's okay, Musumi-san. We understand."

Still trembling like a leaf, Kiyoka asked, "You don't think this has anything to do with me, do you?"

Her eyes were wide and imploring. She looked rather like a sad whimpering puppy, begging its master for something.

"No need to worry, Musumi-san," Kanami answered. "You and Setouchi-san were seen by Kitora-san at eleven o'clock last night when she passed by the library. She said that you were too busy writing to notice her."

Kiyoka now seemed stunned. She hesitated, before saying, "That's not true. I did see her."

"You did?" Sanae and I exclaimed in unison.

"W-Well, yes. I saw her in the mirror when I was writing," Kiyoka explained. "But I was too focused on my novel to acknowledge her—I was in the middle of writing a passionate love scene."

"Thank you, Musumi-san," Kanami said, with a smile. "That is all we needed to know."

It was? There was something so chipper about her voice that Sanae and I looked at Kanami with arched eyebrows. Her grin was as wide and satisfied as the Cheshire Cat's.

As we passed through the conservatory's double doors, Sanae said, "Well, there we have it. Kitora-san saw Setouchi-san and Musumi-san. And Musumi-san saw Kitora-san. They have solid alibis now—for eleven o'clock, that is."

"Mm-hm," Kanami replied, still keeping a steady smile on her face.

"Did you find out what you wanted to know?" I asked.

"I'd say I learned even more..."


As we walked back in the direction of the foyer, the sounds of faint music with the accompaniment of a sad trumpet echoed through the corridor we were in. Louis Armstrong's rendition of the famous song, "La Vie en Rose", to be exact.

"Where's that coming from?" Sanae asked.

"I think it's coming from the ballroom," Kanami said.

She was proven to be correct. The two elegantly carved doors were only open a crack, but it was enough for the three of us to peek inside. The melancholic instrumental we had heard was coming from a small iPod on the floor. Judging by the thick layer of dust everywhere, the ballroom looked as if it hadn't been used in years. All the curtains were closed and the great chandelier was covered with a white sheet. And yet despite its dreary state, in the middle of the large hall were Yui and Hana...dancing.

I couldn't help lifting an eyebrow at how close they were, leaning their heads against each other's shoulders. Yui and Hana looked like they were doing a really slow dance with basic box steps. They could have danced in a small bathroom and still have been able to do it—really, they were just moving slowly in a circle. Their eyes half-lidded and skin pale-grey, the two looked like a pair of zombies.

"Mmph!"

Sharply, I turned to see Sanae had slapped her two hands over her nose. I wasn't entirely certain, but I was fairly sure that she got a bleeding nose. Part of me knew that it was not our right to be spying upon Yui and Hana's romantic affairs, but just as I stepped away, Kanami caught my arm.

"Wait, just watch them," she whispered.

Trying to hide a sigh, I once again peeked into the ballroom. Yui and Hana had stopped dancing and were now just holding each other tightly. Lifting her head from the latter's shoulder, Yui caressed Hana's cheek gently. It was so unlike the lecherous touches Yui would always try to force upon other girls. Although she flinched at the gentle contact, Hana put up no resistance. However, when Yui leaned in, she stopped her with a raised hand.

"No Yui. Not now," Hana said.

Her body shaking, Yui still held firm to her partner, burying her head back into her shoulder. "Hana-san...you're all I have now. There's nobody left that I love."

Giving a sigh and using one hand to stroke Yui's ponytail, Hana said, "That's not true. You have the rest of our friends in the Akabane Sword Team."

"It's not the same," Yui said. "You're the only one I love. I mean it, Hana-san. I really, really love you."

With an almost sad laugh, Hana said, "This coming from the same pervert who chases after all those girls?"

"You know that they mean nothing to me..." Yui mumbled.

She once again looked into Hana's eyes. "Hana-san, let's run away together."

The reaction was immediate. Wriggling out of Yui's embrace, Hana almost pushed her away, taking a step back. Her facial expression was conflicted with emotions.

"You know we could never do that."

"Why not? We both know that it's painful being here. I don't mean just in this house, but this—" she raised her arms in the air, "—this place in general. Everywhere we go in this country, there's nothing but reminders of that awful day. Come on, Hana-san. Let's leave. You and I, together!"

"What you ask for is impossible, Yui!" Hana exclaimed. "We—we could never..."

"Kanami-chan and Hiyori-sama ran away together, remember?"

Hana was now clearly getting frustrated. "That's different, Yui. They had to; they were on the run. And another thing, they didn't leave the damn country."

"I have enough for both of us. Mother left me a moderate means, before she died," Yui said, taking Hana's hands in hers. "Please Hana?"

"And if things don't work out the way you want them to?" Hana demanded. "If we're both still plagued by those horrid memories?"

She was pulled into another hug by Yui. Yui looked as if she wouldn't let go. As if she did, Hana would use the opportunity to escape. As if Hana would easily slip away and disappear. Judging by how she said Hana was all she had left, I doubted Yui intended to let go. Ever.

"I'll still have you. And that's all I care about. I just want you."

With a sigh of defeat, Hana returned the hug. It still wasn't enough for Yui, who then pressed her lips against her lover's. The kiss was passionate, desperate, needy...

Breaking away first, Hana said, "Okay, when we're finally able to get out of this place, we'll go."


"I don't know what Yamashiro-san and Suzumoto-san are thinking," Sanae said. "Do we think we ought to tell their teammates?"

I honestly didn't know. While I was seriously concerned as Yui and Hana were still quite young to be on their own, I also knew that it was not my place to tell them how to live their lives. It was obvious that they were very much in love with each other. I recalled how Kanami and I once took a trip to Okinawa without her father's permission. His rage would have been comical if both of us knew that it wasn't directed at us. I could only guess that perhaps I understood Yui's want to get away and be with her lover more than I thought.

"We still don't know if they'll actually carry it out," I eventually replied. "If things do indeed get serious, I'll consult Mirja and perhaps even Director Maniwa, once we return."

Sanae was still clearly worried, but she said nothing as she braided my hair together. I wanted a private word with Kanami to have a deep discussion about what we witnessed between Yui and Hana. However, that was either going to have to wait until dinner or after, as the time for our evening meal was starting in only a few minutes.

As I undressed to get changed into my evening gown, something fell out of my cardigan pocket. It was Kofuki's small silver case, which I had confiscated earlier. I opened it with a smirk. Just as I thought, the grey-haired troublemaker mainly used it for storing cigarettes. I was about to dump them all in the trash when I noticed something else inside. An engraved inscription on the back of the lid.

To K, my beloved girlfriend. Many birthday wishes and lots of love. From, T.


A/N: Only two more chapters. Kanami has obtained another clue from Kiyoka. The three investigators found Yui and Hana dancing and overheard their plan to run away. And just who is T, the giver of Kofuki's silver cigarette case?