9. Intersection.

T: Warnings and disclaimers remain the same.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

They are sat at opposite sides of a long, square, table, his partner lost in the quite examination of the decadence of their surroundings and he listening to the classical piece that is currently providing the background music.

"You know, there was a time that I believed everyone was accustomed to this sort of lifestyle." Tsubaki remarks as she fixes her attention onto him, "It made me sad when I learned that that was not the case and I resolved to do something about it…made it my mission to assure that at least one 'unfortunate' got a better chance at life." There is the oddest of smiles there now on her lips and he has just opened his lips to ask for a little more of this particular tale when a familiar voice remarks,

"It's been far too long, Ryuichi-kun."

Stood now to their left is the stylishly dressed figure of Tamaki Nanase, Tamaki Akira's powerful, yet kindly, older sister.

"Tamaki-kun, thank you for taking the time to come and meet us like this."

"Nanase, please, Ryuichi-kun and there is nothing that I wouldn't do in order to find the one who has done this terrible thing." She responds as she pulls a chair to the table and slides, elegantly, onto the seat. "Who is this charming young lady?"

"Kakyouin Tsubaki, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Tamaki-kun."

"Ah so you are the private detective that Ryuichi-kun has hired in order to assure that 'justice' is served."

"That's correct."

Nanase gives his partner the 'once over' and then she says,

"I feel confident as to the identity of the one who has taken Akira from me and I am also fairly confident as to why he was killed." Her face breaks out into a bewitching smile but a moment after she has said these words and she remarks, "There's no need to look quite so surprised, I was Akira's 'shoulder' and he told me everything that there was to tell."

"Forgive us, Nanase-kun, we did not mean to offend you."

"It's alright, Ryuichi-kun, truly." Smiling still, she absentmindedly tucks her hair behind her ears and then says, "He came to have a chat with me just a little before they say that he was killed, he was very clearly stressed and yet he never completely explained why that was. He told me that he was going to be going away for a while, that, should you come my way, I was to apologise for his behaviour and give you this." Bending down she picks her handbag from off of the floor, retrieves a thin envelope and passes it into his care, "He then pressed the conversation towards the matter of his past, which was when I knew that he was back in Akira's life."

"He?"

"Muraki Kazutaka. He and Akira studied at the same university and, though they were there for very different reasons they were both friendly with Tetsua Keigo and thus they were often 'thrown together'."

"You seem to care very little for this individual, Tamaki-kun." Tsubaki remarks, a curious, yet compassionate stress in her voice that is as the subtlest of pushes for the other to continue with her tale.

"With the best of causes I assure you, Kakyouin-kun…you see my brother has always thought a great deal of Tetsua-kun and he dedicated a lot of his time into assuring his happiness. It was a weakness that Muraki-san pushed at as often as he was able and, little by little, that pushing changed my brother…made him a bitter and broken man."

"Then this is the man that you suspect?"

"That is correct."

"Yet if he truly controlled your brother in the manner that you suggest why would he need to go to the extreme of killing him?"

"Because Akira had taken Tetsua-kun away from Muraki-san…had made it so that he couldn't get to him as long as Akira was alive." Clearly uncertain of herself now the older woman glances from his face, to Tsubaki's, before settling on some unknown object just over his right shoulder. "I know that that sounds silly and yet I'm sure that's the reason…Akira always made it sound as though Muraki-san had some very important reason for Keeping Tetsua-kun close, something that he would not hesitate to kill for."

"It sounds like a viable theory, Tetsua-san." Tsubaki remarks as she flashes the other a 'it'll be fine' smile, "I am sure that we have kept you long enough, however and there is a great deal of 'leg work' to do if we hope to turn that theory into fact."

"I'll make sure to call the second we learn anything, Nanase-kun."

"Thank you, Ryuichi-kun." She bows politely to the both of them and then, bending to once again secure her handbag, she vacates the table.

He waits a few moments and then he opens out the envelope and, his voice dipped low in order to escape the ears of any other that Tsubaki, he begins to read it's contents,

"'Minase-kun,

You will have to forgive my actions the last that we met but it truly seemed the only way to keep everything silent…to keep Keigo-kun safe. However, it seems that that was not the case and that things are again spiralling beyond my control.

I am certain that Muraki-san means to kill me in order that he might, once more, use Keigo-kun for his own ends and thus I have provided you a detailed account of Muraki-san's interaction with both Keigo-kun and myself, which I have hidden well on the mini disc that you shall find with this note.

I implore you to do everything in your power to make Keigo-kun safe.

Tamaki Akira'"

"Which means that the next logical step is to take the mini disc to Watari-san, wouldn't you agree?"

"I would indeed."

……………………………………………………………………………….

"Waaa, you've filled out really well, Hijiri-kun!" The scientist remarks as he glomps onto her partner's middle. "You must have been beating the women off with a stick."

"It wasn't really like that, Watari-san." Hijiri counters, his cheeks colouring as he does as such.

"Perhaps you could save such nonsense for another time, Watari-san." She remarks as she passes the mini disc into the scientists care, "There's something hidden on this disc that I need,"

"Simplicity itself!" The other responds as he breezes over to his computer.

After a few minutes of silence the genki one pulls Hijiri into an inane conversation about his life as a 'star' and she decides to 'make good her escape' before the other also ropes her into the matter.

Tsuzuki is slumped at her desk when she steps into the office and, curious, she enquires,

"What brings you here?"

"An old 'friend'."

"How did you find out?"

"Does it matter?"

"No." She responds, before enquiring, "What would you like to know?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

T: Next chapter sun/mon. review?