The next day they were all up before the sun had risen. Liz made the tea as they sat around the table discussing what they were going to do.
The case was an odd one, seven people had been killed in all. The four girls had their hair shorn off and their right legs cut off. The three other victims, all male, were missing their left legs. All of the bodies, however had had their throats ripped out completely. The body parts had been found the other day buried together in a ditch. The police still had no suspects. The other bruises on the victims appeared to have been made by claws or teeth.
"Maybe it was a werewolf?" Liz suggested taking a seat at the table, a cup of tea in her hand.
"That's not possible," Tatsumi said.
"Why?" Hisoka asked curiously.
"Most of the werewolf population was eradicated years ago. Those who remain live in secluded areas away from humans," Watari explained "No one knows where to find them and they haven't attacked humans for over fifty years let alone been seen by anyone,"
"Isn't it possible, after all this time, that someone did find them?" Liz asked. Silence descended on them.
"We really should start investigating," Hisoka said finally breaking the silence as the sun began to rise.
"Are you ready to go out again, Liz?" Tsuzuki asked as they all started going to their rooms to get changed.
"Yeah and I really don't want to be left alone here while you guys have all the fun," Liz replied with a small laugh. Half an hour later they were all standing out front dressed and ready to go.
"Alright, since the victims were all found in two different sections of the city we'll have to split up to investigate both before nightfall," Tatsumi said, "Ok. Liz you go with Hisoka and Tsuzuki to the Jinshiro street pub. Watari and I'll take the Deom square hotel. We'll meet up at the far east edge of the city to investigate the woods after dark," He instructed and they all split up.
The pub was small, but not very crowded and quite dark. It was the perfect place for a murder. The minute they entered Hisoka grabbed Lizs' hand, so that they wouldn't lose her, the few people here seemed like weirdos. They approached the bar to question the bartender about the victims.
"Hello?" Tsuzuki said to the large man, whose back was facing them at the moment. He turned around and stared them down with mean eyes.
"What do you want?" He asked gruffly.
"We were wondering if we could ask you a few questions," Tsuzuki said "About the murders," He added. The bartender sighed.
"What do you want to know?" He asked leaning on the counter still peering at them defensively.
"Did you see anyone strange here that night?" Hisoka asked and the bartenders head snapped in his direction indicating that he'd just noticed him.
"No one stranger than usual," The bartender replied "Better hold tight to your girl there," He added nodding towards Liz. Hisoka tightened his grip on her hand.
"Hmmm, anyone new?" Tsuzuki asked.
"Yeah, a very hairy man," the bartender replied "I'd never seen him before and I kicked him out when he started get into an argument with another customer,"
"Did he have a name?" Hisoka asked.
"He said his name was Hano," the bartender replied "I have to get back to my customers now," He said.
"Thank you for your time," Tsuzuki said and they left.
"Well, that was more than a little helpful," Liz said "I think we can assume that this 'Hano' guy is a werewolf,"
"Or a very hairy man," Tsuzuki stated.
"We have to meet Watari and Tatsumi soon," Hisoka said looking at the sky. They all met up within an hour where they were supposed to meet and began comparing notes.
"There was a man staying at the hotel whose name was Hanoishi Tokayama," Watari said "He supposedly checked out the day before the victims were found. The hotel staff said that he was a large rather hairy man,"
"Hmm, There was a man called Hano, that fits that description, at the pub the night the first victims were killed," Tsuzuki added.
"We have a bit to go on at least," Tatsumi sighed "These woods are where the bodies were found. We should poke around a bit before going back to see if we can dig up anymore clues," He said.
"We'll stay in our groups and don't wander too far," Watari warned "We don't want to lose anyone out here,"
They started to walk into the woods. It was dark already, but the moon was large and full and lit the area enough for them to at least see where they were going. The forest wasn't very dense in these parts and the moonlight shone through the leaves.
"What's that?" Liz whispered and pointed to a large wolf-like figure that was standing in the near distance and appeared to be watching them.
"Shhh, stay still," Hisoka whispered back. They froze as the creature moved away, deeper into the forest. Once they were certain that the creature was gone they went to where it had been standing. A pool of blood shone before them and it trailed into the forest in the direction that the beast had gone. A moment later Tatsumi and Watari arrived at the spot as well.
"Where were you?" Tsuzuki asked them. They both blushed slightly.
"Well, it looks like Liz was right. We've got a werewolf on our hands no doubt about that," Tatsumi said ignoring Tsuzukis' question, "But who would bring one out? They've been secluded for their own safety," He pondered as they began walking back to the house.
"Who else?" Hisoka asked "Muraki is the only one sick enough to do this kind of thing," He stated anger hinting in his voice. He felt Lizs' heart jump at the mention of Muraki.
"We'll just have to continue investigating tomorrow," Tsuzuki sighed as they entered the house.
Their investigating the next day turned up nothing and they returned home exhausted.
"Do you mind if I stay home tomorrow?" Liz asked "I have a few things that I want to do around the house,"
"Sure, just stay inside okay?" Hisoka said. The rest nodded in agreement.
"I will," Liz smiled "Thanks,"
Liz awoke the next morning to a completely empty house. She showered and dressed enjoying the freedom of having the house to herself. She baked a little before sitting down on the sofa to read leaving the cookies on the counter to cool before she could put them in the cookie jar.
Around dinnertime she got up again and ate, alone. It wasn't until later that night that she felt her heart jump and begin to race. 'Oh no,' she thought to herself as a fear that was not her own seized her. 'Hisoka! Hisoka, are you ok!?' she called to him, but he didn't answer. A terrible scream escaped her lips and she collapsed on the floor.
An hour later the others returned home, without Hisoka. Liz was sitting on the sofa trying to calm her racing heart.
"What happened? Where's Hisoka?" she asked breathlessly as they came into the living room.
"We're not sure where Hisoka disappeared to," Tsuzuki lamented "He just vanished while we were fighting Hano,"
'Liz! Liz! Help me!' Hisokas' voice rang in her head.
'Where are you?' Liz asked back 'Are you ok?' she closed her eyes as she waited for a response.
'No' Hisoka replied 'I don't know where I am. Muraki..' He said and then was cut off. Liz moaned and opened her eyes as she shook with fear that was only partly her own now.
"Liz, are you ok," Watari asked.
"Its Hisoka," Liz whimpered "Muraki has him," she said, but they didn't have time to respond because Tsuzukis' cellphone rang unexpectedly. He picked it up.
"Muraki," He spat after a moment then thinking quickly he put him on speakerphone and motioned for the others to be quiet.
"I have the boy," Murakis' voice said from the phone. The three of them looked at Liz in awe.
"Where are you?" Tsuzuki asked trying to stay calm.
"You'll have to find me," Muraki teased "Do you think you can?" he mocked
"How are we supposed to do that without a clue?" Tsuzuki said angrily.
"Use the girl," He said before hanging up.
"Liz, how did you..." Tatsumi started to ask as Tsuzuki put his phone away.
"I don't know. Hisoka and I are connected somehow," Liz replied.
"Then you're going to have to help us save him," Tsuzuki said. Liz nodded.