A/N: Hey everyone! So, I've finally started working on "Blood Vessel", the fifth fanfic of the Toji No Miko murder mystery series. I will try to update chapters at least once a week.

I have also closed the poll on my profile and the option with the most votes is the Hiyori-POV one. So, for the sixth fanfic (the one after this), I will be writing in first-person-POV from Hiyori's perspective. I am excited to try something different, as I've only written first-person POV once (and that was only for one chapter in my fanfic "Comatose").

In addition to this, for those of you who love the Akabane Sword Team, I have received requests for them to be in one of my mystery fanfics. You can get yourselves excited because, in the sixth fanfic, they will be in it! I am still working on the plotline, but am nearly finished. (Hopefully, I can get started on it by Christmas since it is Christmas-themed.)

Anyway, without further ado, here is "Blood Vessel"!

Chapter 1: Deadly Waters

A vast misty fog loomed over Sagami Bay, wrapping over the murky waters. On a moonless night such as this, the broad inlet looked almost pitch-black like an inky darkness that might swallow one whole, beneath its depths. The lapping of the waves was like a rhythmic lullaby, gentle and peaceful—as if hiding the true powerful forces of the ocean.

From the shore of Kamakura, if one stared out towards the sea, one would be able to see what appeared to be a lone star, like a shining jewel. It moved along the horizon at a steady pace for it was not a star—but a superyacht with all her windows well-lit, The Royal Diana. She was a beautiful modern vessel with invincible-like power. With a master suite and seven guest bedrooms; a bar area; and a hot tub and swimming pool, she was a superyacht of the utmost comfort and luxury. The waves, which parted before her wake, were no match for her sturdy and resilient bow. She was the crème de la crème of the financially successful Yanase Group. And though he never mentioned it to the rest of his family, to Yanase Takanori, The Royal Diana was his pride and joy.

"There that damned Takanori-sama goes again with his big ass boat," some fishermen would remark if the superyacht would pass by on a clear day. "The drinks he and his party guests always go through could fill the entire Sagami Bay!"

And for this particular night, a party indeed Takanori and his wife, Touko, were hosting. A social gathering to be exact for the families of some of their closest business partners.

'But why did it have to be tonight?' Mai thought, struggling to pay attention to her conversation partner, Yukimura Kaito.

In her head, the Yanase heiress was more focused upon the date she had to regretfully decline with Sayaka. As much as she pleaded for her father to let her be absent for the night, Takanori insisted on his eldest daughter accompanying him and his wife.

"You are the future chief executive officer of our company, Mai," Takanori had reminded her. "How will being elusive and truant help improve the advancements of the Yanase Group?"

Frowning in remembrance, Mai tried to keep herself in the present and not imagine herself sitting down at a small eatery with Sayaka instead. Their dates were usually casual because the Renpu Toji was on a budget and refused to let only Mai pay the bill. Nonetheless, in the purple-haired girl's opinion, eating at a humble ramen restaurant with her girlfriend would have been better than on The Royal Diana greeting a bunch of adults to then be ignored by them for the majority of the night. The only favourable moment Mai experienced was being able to see her older cousin, Yanase Chisaki, again.

"Mai-san, did you hear me?"

"Eh?"

Annoyed at the lack of attention from Mai, Kaito repeated, "I said that I'm thinking of finally letting Chisaki have it."

Mai was now anxious. "W-What do you mean?"

"She is as good as dirt—pardon me for badmouthing your cousin. But seriously, Chisaki has been nothing but a royal thorn in the flesh. Quite frankly...I hate her."

The Yanase heiress brought a hand to her mouth, her eyes as wide as saucers. To hear such words coming from the fiancé of her beloved cousin was like a sword going through Mai's heart. With an expression that could be only described as aghast, Mai looked into the young boy's face. Yukimura Kaito was a tall well-built lad with handsome features. He could have chosen any girl he wanted, and yet that freedom was taken from him by necessary business obligations.

"Kaito, you don't seriously mean that, do you?" Mai asked, hoping to find any sympathy in his eyes.

"I do," he replied, his temper mounting with every second. "Chisaki is going to get it. It's high time everyone stops just letting her manipulate them."

Slamming down his drink onto the mahogany surface of the table next to him, Kaito viciously swore under his breath so that Mai couldn't hear, "I swear one of these days, I'll kill her!"

Hurrying around The Royal Diana and combing through every room was a man of great importance in his own belief, Yanase Kentaro. Although being the younger brother of Takanori, Kentaro built up a corporation just as booming, devoted to insurance.

'Where the hell is she?' he internally cursed.

Quickening his pace, the businessman went to the swimming pool at the stern to find Mai and Kaito, lounging on a couple of deck chairs. Kentaro hurried over to them.

"Mai, where is Chisaki? Have you seen her?"

The purple-haired girl shook her head. "I have not in the past half hour. Have you checked her room?"

"I did. She isn't there. Her purse was on the bed, but her phone is nowhere to be found either," Kentaro said. "I've searched the entire vessel for her. I thought perhaps she was with you."

Mai's breath caught in her throat. Where could her cousin possibly be? Being out at sea, there weren't that many places where one could conceal oneself.

"We must tell Captain Itogawa to stop the vessel until we find her," Mai said, getting up from her chair at once.

She and her uncle hurried off, leaving Kaito behind with his drink, as he lazily called, "Don't mind me staying here. I'm quite at my leisure."

With more uncertainty than certainty about Chisaki's unknown situation, Mai and Kentaro hurried out of the bridge, after alerting Captain Itogawa of the circumstances. It was just when they were close to the edge of the deck that the purple-haired Toji let out an ear-splitting scream.

"What?! What is it?" Kentaro exclaimed.

Mai didn't answer and just kept screaming at the top of her lungs, while pointing into the dark waters below. Floating motionlessly with the waves was what appeared to be a mound of red fabric. But upon closer observation, one could see that it was rather a young girl wearing a scarlet dress. With her beautiful long hair and slender limbs, she looked almost like a mermaid.

Kentaro let out a profanity once he recognized who it was. Her skin now grey and her lips a cold-blue, Yanase Chisaki drifted lifelessly in the sea, the fabric of her long dress caught along the superyacht's keel below.

"Chisaki!" Kentaro cried. Without even thinking about how hopeless the situation was, the businessman threw off his suit jacket and kicked off his shoes before jumping in.

"Uncle Kentaro, no!" Mai shrieked.

But the businessman was already swimming over towards his daughter. Fearful for her uncle's life, Mai threw overboard a life preserver, just as Takanori and Captain Itogawa were hurrying to the scene.

"Good God, what is going on?" Takanori asked.

"It's Chisaki," Mai sobbed. "S-She's dead!"

A/N: Yes, as some of you may have guessed, the Yanase Family's yacht is named after Princess Diana. I personally see her as one of my role-models, mainly because I could really connect with the emotions she went through.