The Devil's Checkmate

By Miaka

Once back at the manor, everyone bid each other somber "good nights" before silently turning in for the night; everyone, save for Miyako and Minazuki. Miyako waited for the hall to empty before allowing herself to knock at Minazuki's room. He appeared a moment later with surprise on his face; it had only been a minute before that Miyako had wished him pleasant dreams.

Now she stood and looked at him excitedly, her face half hidden but somewhat visible by the positioning of the candle-like hall lights. Minazuki's hand slid off the door handle as Miyako pushed past him to enter his room. Minazuki, quite thrown off, first stuck his head out into the hall way to make sure no one had seen and then shut his door as he sank back into the room.

"We have to go back to the opera house," was the first thing Miyako said. Minazuki wondered if he had heard right as he shuddered and turned to face her. He wasn't sure yet which disturbed him more; what was actually said or the determination with which she said it.

"Mi, Mi, Miyako…" Yamato stammered, finding himself even more flustered when he met Miyako's ambitious eyes on him. With a gulp, Minazuki mustered up all the backbone he could manage in order to go on, "The place is under investigation now. We can't go back there."

"We'll have to call a taxi in the morning… long before breakfast… everyone would be up by then. Ooh!!! Maybe I can email Haruta and get him to fly in…" Miyako babbled on all of her ideas. It appeared she hadn't even heard Minazuki; he sighed and stood awkwardly at the room's center. From there he watched Miyako circle him, continuing to spill out her ideas. Should she call her father? No, Haruta, Shinji, or Akita would have to do. Detective Toudaiji was likely busy enough with Japanese cases. She could contact the Parisian department and offer her assistance, but how likely were they to take a high school student seriously? A foreigner, at that. Her French, also, was not exactly fluent. Miyako sighed, realizing the many circumstances against her. She plopped onto Minazuki's perfectly-made bed and fell into one of her silent pondering moods.

Minazuki masked his relief and quietly watched Miyako. He didn't like to see her so disappointed, but he would prefer that to being dragged into a possible murder case neither one of them had anything to do with. Aside from being witnesses.

"Maybe if I tell the chauffer I left something behind, he would take us there," Miyako grasped her knees, both satisfied and excited by her idea.

Minazuki groaned and finally abandoned his spot in the middle of the room to face Miyako. She looked up at him; her smile stung him. She was no doubt expecting his full support; but she wasn't going to get it.

"I know you want to be a detective, Miyako," he started, feeling the beads of sweat already start to form as he watched Miyako's smile fade. "But we're not in Momokuri. We should just mind our own business, you know? Save the crime fighting for when we get back home."

He hadn't persuaded her. "It very well might have just been a terrible accident!" he added desperately. Miyako turned her eyes away from him, looking hurt. Minazuki tried to find something to say, but his voice only came out weakly as an uncomfortable, "Umm..."

Instantly, Miyako got up and stormed for the door. Minazuki was quick to get in her way, pulling her hand away from the door handle. She looked at him furiously, which made him let go. But he did not avert his eyes from her, despite how clearly angry she was.

"Don't be mad at me," he said. He hadn't phrased it as a request, but his tone was pleading. For a second, Miyako relaxed. She was about to say something. But then came a knock at the door.

Both Miyako and Minazuki jerked their heads toward it in alarm. Who, at this hour? Minazuki ended the thought, recalling that Miyako had come to his door moments earlier. It seemed that tonight his company was popular; but at the moment, it wasn't much comfort.

"Monsieur Minazuki?" the familiar, saucy French accent asked from the other side.

Minazuki caught Miyako's scowl just as he opened the door for the maid and answered, "Ah, Marguerite?" Marguerite smiled as the two guests came into view. She showed no surprise over Miyako's presence; in fact, she ignored the girl altogether, directing every spoken word to Minazuki alone.

"Madame has informed me of the tragedy of today. She has asked me to see to all of you and to make sure you are well and comfortable. I came to you, personally, to ask if there is anything Monsieur desires." She clasped her hands lightly in front of her, watching Minazuki consider.

Miyako was enraged. Despite Marguerite's words, 'all of you', the maid did not once acknowledge Miyako. What annoyed Miyako much more, however, was Minazuki's sudden fidgeting in the presence of Marguerite. He had been just fine a minute ago. But now that some curvy, well-busted blonde in a skirt much too short (and far too frilled for Miyako's liking) stood before him, offering god knows what services were crossing his mind, Minazuki could barely stand still.

"What about you, Mademoiselle?" Marguerite actually spoke to Miyako. "Is there something you wanted?" she asked. Miyako noted that the tone was less friendly now; it was as if Marguerite was dismissing her.

Fine, then.

"No," Miyako replied without emotion. "Thank you. I'm going to bed." She left the room so suddenly that Minazuki had not been able to see her face before she was out the door. He frowned, wondering if she would still be mad at him in the morning.

"Is everything alright, Monsieur?" Marguerite seemed concerned by Miyako's abrupt exit. Minazuki had forgotten the maid was there for a second. He nodded, gazing uselessly at Miyako's back as she disappeared into the corridor.

"I don't need anything," he decided, politely adding, "But thank you."

My apologies for the consistent waits between chapters. I've decided to go back to making shorter chapters. Generally what keeps me from posting the next chapters right away is that I find they're not long enough; I'm gonna see if making the chapters shorter will help my progress at all.

I wanted to focus a bit more on Miyako and Yamato here, but don't worry, the other characters will appear next time. Thanks for reading.