VIII. A New Day

Junko sat in the dining hall the next day, thinking over the events of yesterday. The feeling of Kyoko's kiss lingered on her lips so forcefully that she had dreamed about it that night, replaying it over and over again. Thankfully, she had managed to slip out of the hideout without disturbing Mukuro. She had a lot to think about before everyone else got here. Kyoko's kiss was unexpected and certainly not boring. Junko was even more interested and riveted now. Just the thought of Kyoko actually playing into her fantasies was so intoxicating.

As she tapped her nails on the table in front to her she concluded that the next step would be to make Kyoko suspect Makoto as a spy. Yes, Junko thought that would be perfect. Trying too fast to win Kyoko's trust would backfire, she had drive a wedge between her and Makoto, first then she would be all Junko's. Toko peeked into the dining hall and crept inside. Junko threw a glance at her and rolled her eyes, she was probably looking for her 'master'.

Toko briskly started towards the kitchen but paused at the table when she noticed Junko's presence. Her eyes relaxed, blushing with a smug smile she snickered at Junko. Junko sighed, she was bored now anyway, why not indulge Toko a little.

"And what the hell are you snickering at?" Junko asked in an annoyed tone.

"You've been having some perverted thoughts about that brood in purple haven't you? I can see it in your eyes. Keheheh." Toko chuckled mainly to herself.

"As if! Just because a greasy gremlin like you has a stream of constant perverted thoughts doesn't mean I do!" Junko said, turning away feeling a little irritated at this conversation.

Why was this troll the one who walked into the dining hall first? Wait a minute, how did she find out about her and Kyoko? And just how much did she know? Toko slithered into the chair next to Junko and looked around to confirm that no one was watching.

"Tell, you what, I'll cut you a deal. You fill me in on the, keheheh...details and tell me where Master is. And then I won't consider you so a trashy whore. What do ya say?" Toko asked in a breathy tone. Junko wrinkled her nose, Toko reminded her too much of her sister, pathetic and groveling.

"Yeaaah. I'll pass, good luck finding that stuck up prick." Junko remarked, turning away from Toko as Celestia, Mondo and Byakuya entered the dining hall. Toko launched herself at her Master, he dodged her, readjusted his glasses and walked past Junko.

"Seems like everyone is still here this morning."

Junko jumped, turning to her right to see Kyoko sitting next to her with a hot cup of tea. How the hell did she manage to do that? Junko tried to stiffen up and think of a bored comment to make.

"So what, did you think everyone would start offing each other after the first trial?" Junko asked, gauging Kyoko's reaction. Kyoko carefully sipped her tea. Her lips looked so delicate and soft. Junko reddened thinking about yesterday.

"Yes, I considered the possibility but luckily it hasn't come to pass." Kyoko said watching the rest of the gang walk through the hall. Junko decided to ask a daring question, Kyoko's response would reveal a lot. Junko looked at Kyoko with genuine curiosity.

"Sooooo, what do you think the Mastermind wants with all of us, you know setting up this elaborate murder game?" Kyoko stopped drinking her tea and looked away with anger in the eyes.

"I'm not sure. But I intend to figure it out." Kyoko said with determination in her voice. It was pretty cute to see Kyoko so intent on unmasking her. As the morning meeting started Junko grinned to herself as she relished the thought of just her and Kyoko living out her fantasies.

After breakfast Kyoko and Junko were walking around the 2nd floor investigating. Makoto had wanted to come with them but Kyoko surprised Junko by saying she wanted to investigate just with her. As they entered the pool area, Junko decided to take this opportunity to plant a seed of doubt in Kyoko's mind.

"So if you want to be super thorough why not search everyone's rooms? Wouldn't you find out who the Mastermind is by doing that?" Junko asked, watching the pool's stillness as they walked it's perimeter.

"Hmm. A pragmatic approach. I like it. Are sure you're not trying to usurp Makoto's position as my assistant?" Kyoko asked with flirtatious undertones.

Junko blushed, why couldn't she control her responses to the Detective?

"What? No! It's just so obvious I'm surprised that it hasn't been done, yet." Junko said, examining her flawless nails.

Kyoko smirked. "Alright then, would like to assist me in that process? Having a different person assist me can minizine that possibility of bias in the investigation." Junko barely managed to hide her glee.

"Sure, whatever. It's not like I have anything better to do, but I'm not touching any gross stuff and doing any heavy lifting!" Junko stated firmly as they exited the pool area and headed to the stairs. Sure she was undercover as her sister pretending to be her, but there was no way that she would perform such trivial tasks. Kyoko softly smiled to herself, thinking that was a very 'Junko' thing to say.

"I wouldn't expect the Ultimate Fashionista to do so anyway." She said as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Once they reached everyone's rooms, Kyoko stood in the hallway and scanned each of the doors analyzing her options. Junko stood behind her and played with one of her pigtails, analyzing Kyoko. Yes, it was only a matter of time until I found the evidence in Makoto's room.

Kyoko moved to check Celestia's room but stopped herself and walked over to Makoto's room and knocked on his door. Makoto opened the door and revealed that he, Chihiro and Celestia were hanging out in his room.

"Hey guys. Do you need something?" As soon as Junko spotted the others she knew that now was the time to pressure Makoto. If he resisted in any way, the others would think he had something to hide.

"Yeah, basically me and Kyoko are searching everyone's rooms. So move out of the way." Junko said, inviting him to try and resist. Celestia and Chihiro looked surprised at Junko's intentions. Makoto looked around the hallway nervously.

"Do you really think that the others will cooperate with that plan? What if someone refuses? Like Toko or Togami?" Kyoko took a deep breath and steeled her gaze.

"I have no doubt that some will try to resist our approach but this is a good way to find out if there are some clues about this school that are hidden in someone's room. Someone could be hiding something." Kyoko explained to Makoto and the others. Makoto tried to protest but Junko rolled her eyes and groaned. Shoving past him, Junko entered the room with Kyoko following.

"Listen, this is the best plan we've had so far! We search everyone's rooms before everyone else has a chance to hide anything. We finally have a chance to find something useful, for a change. Unless you have something to hide…" Junko trailed off, watching Chihiro and Celestia's suspension of Makoto rise.

Kyoko also eyed Makoto who was sweating under the pressure.

"No, no! I don't have a problem with it, but I've been over everything in the room. There's nothing." He tried to reassure them. Kyoko's eyes flashed as noticed a piece of paper peeking out behind Makoto's bed. She rushed over and uncovered the planted notebook.

Celestia and Chihiro both looked over Kyoko's shoulders as she opened the notebook and leafed through it. Celestia smirked at Makoto.

"I believe you just told us that you 'went over' everything in this room. It appears that was a lie. Was it not?" Celestia said hiding her bemused smile behind her hand.

Makoto was in shock and tried to explain. Junko was loving the hopelessness clouding his eyes as well as fear. Served him right for spending too much time with Kyoko. He would have a slow despairingly, painful death, while she, the Mastermind watched with Kyoko in her arms. Kyoko angrily shoved the notebook into Junko's hands and started to overturn everything else in the room. Chihiro looked around nervously and finally piped up.

"I-I want to help too! I'll look in the bathroom!" Chihiro scampered over to the door and opened it. Junko faked looking around the opposite side of the room, but it didn't take very long for Kyoko to find Makoto's toolkit. She opened it and glared at Makoto who was in shock and terror.

"Kyoko, I swear! The last time I looked inside of the toolkit there was no note. I don't know who put that there, but someone must be setting me up!" He cried out in desperation. Junko LOVED this. It was going even better then she had planned. She loved to watch the trust between Kyoko and Makoto burn away, replaced with hate and betrayal.

"OOPS!" Chihiro exclaimed from the bathroom. Everyone walked over to see what happened. Chihiro stood in the bathroom holding a loose tile, looking at the spot it came from. In it's place was a small envelope that Kyoko snatched and tore open. Junko stood behind them, she loved to see Kyoko investigating with such passion. She was definitely a person who worked even better under pressure.

"A letter." Kyoko announced to everyone there. "From the Mastermind to Makoto." Kyoko said, gripping the letter with newfound fury. Makoto stood helplessly, looking like he was about to cry. There was nothing he could do and Junko loved it. Kyoko turned around slowly and exited the bathroom without saying a word. Everyone followed with Makoto trying to find words to defend himself.

"Kyoko, I promise I didn't have anything to do with-"

Kyoko smacked Makoto across the face with the palm of her hand. Celestia leaned back against the wall with Junko, ready to watch the drama unfold, as Chihiro looked on with fear.

"You have a lot of nerve investigating with me, searching for evidence when you had all of this inside your room!" Kyoko yelled at him. Makoto cowered, Kyoko rarely ever raised her voice. Kyoko then turned to Junko.

"That note I found inside the toolkit was from you to Makoto asking you to meet him in the gym at night. Why did you write him that?" Kyoko demanded, aiming her fury at Junko.

A shiver of anticipation ran through Junko, as she quickly planned her response.

"I wrote him that because he told me earlier that had he had found out who the Mastermind is and wanted to meet with me in private to talk, something about not trusting you." Junko said, watching the rage spread on Kyoko's face.

"I need to question you right now and as for Makoto, you are no longer my assistant." Kyoko spat as she marched briskly out of the room.