A/N: Hey fellow fanfic readers and writers! It's me again, Yukina Takanashi, and I have a new large writing project planned out. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, I've lately been sick and just self-quarantining at home. So, I've had lots of time to figure out how to write this new fanfic. I had to very carefully plan it (and occasionally suffer from writer's block breakdowns) because...this fanfic is a murder mystery.

Agatha Christie is my writing idol and I own every single one of her books. What with all the free time I'm wasting away cause of COVID-19, I reread them all...and that is what inspired me to write a murder mystery myself, set in the Toji No Miko world. I've written a few mystery novels when I was in my high school years, but they were all amateurish and had many plot holes.

Now, with more knowledge and understanding, I've taken up writing my favourite genre again. I hope you enjoy this Toji No Miko murder mystery and I'm not sure if it'll be any good, but I really wanted to try it. I hope you all enjoy it! :)

Chapter 1: Death At The Mansion

Covering her mouth with her hand, Akane concealed a yawn before tying her robe together. She peered into her bedroom mirror, combing her tangled hair with her fingers quickly. Even in her own house, Akane tried to, at least, look tidy in the morning. There was nothing she could do for her poor eyes though, which were very clearly bloodshot. Trying to ignore them, the Origami sister turned away from the mirror and left the room, making her way towards the dining hall.

Today was just going to be like every other day. Perhaps once all of their guests departed, she and her older sister, Yukari, could get some work done. Or maybe even take a day off to enjoy time to themselves.

'When was the last time we even got to spend time together, just the two of us?' Akane thought.

She let her mind run back, trying to remember. They planned a picnic to themselves in one of the Kamakura gardens—now when was that? Two weeks ago? Three? No—it was definitely more recent than that!

Akane eventually gave up, once she walked through the doors of the dining hall. Delicious food was already set at the sideboard, wafting the room with mouth-watering smells.

"Good morning, everyone," the Origami sister said.

Polite greetings were returned. Seated together at the long dining table were the presidents of the Five Traditions, along with Sana, who was also the director of the Special Sword Administration Bureau.

'Well, at least they all seem to be in better spirits than last night,' Akane thought, as she filled her plate.

"Where's Nee-sama?" she asked.

Yuzuki took a sip of her coffee, before replying, "Probably still hasn't woken up."

"She had a headache last night, not to mention drank so many glasses of beer," Ema said. "It's only natural for her to feel more tired than usual."

Yukina glared at the Minoseki president, giving a small "hmph" at this comment.

Akane put her plate at her seat, and said, "I'll go check on her."

Sana placed her chopsticks down, jumping from her chair. "No, I'll go. You start breakfast, Akane."

Conversation seemed to be difficult between the five seated people after Sana left. Mechanically, they all ate their breakfast, mouthful by mouthful. And covertly, on occasion, one of them would look up and watch the others. The uneasiness was broken by the loud disruptive sounds of a growling stomach. Heads turned in the direction.

"Sorry..." came the mumbled response.

Stationed at attention against one of the walls of the dining hall was Kanami, the apparent source of the disturbance. On her right were the two Elite Guards, Maki and Suzuka, who smirked in amusement. Hiyori, however, who was on Kanami's left, rolled her eyes.

"Maybe if you woke up earlier like I told you to, your stomach would've had enough time to get its fill," the Heijou Toji whispered.

Kanami half-whispered, half-whined, "Why do we have to wake up earlier in the first place? Why can't we just eat with the adults?"

It was Maki that answered her question. "Cause we're on duty. And stop talking amongst yourselves. Etou, stand up straighter."

The kenjutsu-geek sighed quietly and obeyed, praying that everyone would finish their breakfast soon so she could get some herself. In her mind, she wondered how Kaoru was able to follow such procedures. Getting up super-duper early at 4:30, eating breakfast before the rest of the household awoke... Kanami eventually came to the conclusion that Kaoru was able to work with such conditions, albeit grudgingly.

But for now, Kanami and Hiyori were called as replacements. A mission that Sayaka and Kaoru had been sent on last week was apparently taking longer than expected. Yukari was seemingly not comfortable with only two Elite Guards on duty at the mansion. And as last night was the period for an important meeting in the Origami household, Sana sent Kanami and Hiyori to temporarily take the position.

The Minoseki Toji looked through the corners of her eyes at Hiyori. The stoic ebony-haired girl showed no outward sign of sleepiness nor hunger. A determined look was in her expression, hard and unyielding.

'Of course, Hiyori-chan has no problem with anything,' Kanami thought while trying to suppress a yawn.

Then came the sound. The sound of running feet. Simultaneously, the presidents and Akane rose from their chairs, looking towards the doors. Sana appeared, breathless and with a grave look on her face.

"Akane-chan, you'd better come and see this."

Then, looking at everyone else, she added, "And there's no longer any need to wait for Yukari-sama."

There was silence, a long silence. Everyone looked at each other in confusion and distress, before following the director.

"We'd better go see what's going on too," Maki said to her fellow Tojis.

Sana led the group through the hallways of the mansion to Yukari's bedroom. A shiver ran down Kanami's back, as a blast of cold air hit her. She saw the reason why once she noticed the bedroom window wide open. Nothing seemed amiss, except that Yukari didn't seem to hear nor notice their entrance.

Then, Akane let out a cry of horror, covering her mouth with her hands in anguished shock. Yukari lay in her bed motionless, her lips blue and her skin a pale-grey. Suzuka approached the older Origami sister, motioning for the others to keep back. Slowly, she took the body's limp arm, feeling for the pulse...

"My God...she's dead!"

A/N: That is the first chapter of "Whodunnit?" As I'm sure you've noticed, I addressed the five presidents by their first names for simplicity's sake. I will try to update every week if I have the time. As always, feel free to let me know your thoughts and send your reviews. See you all in Chapter 2!