A/N: Well, most people are rather…unhappy with 'Sasazuka' being the murderer. But unfortunately, the whole story has planned around that, so, it won't be changed now! I like Sasazuka, he's awesome, seriously, I do. Although you'd never be able to tell because what I did with him in this story…

Disclaimer: None of the characters portrayed here are mine, blah blah blah, etc. etc.

---Chapter 10: The Other Half of the Story---

There was complete silence in the courtroom. Not one person spoke, each one frozen in shock. Yako wanted to scream out, to try and make say that he was joking. However, nothing would come out, instead, she ended up sitting there, slowly opening and closing her mouth. Sasazuka himself just sat there, not making any attempts to speak.

Seeing that no one was talking, Neuro started to speak, "It would seem that all of you are a bit confused. Alright then, let's start at the beginning, shall we?" He turned, a packet of papers in hand.

"If I were to tell this in complete order, the 'start' would be about 2 months back; the day Mr. Sasazuka investigated the Supreme S. I'm sure you all know that name; it's a famous five star restaurant. However, you also may have heard rumors of how there's something wrong with the food there. When he had searched everything, Mr. Sasazuka said that he found nothing and told the public there were drugs. That was not true," Neuro flipped a page in the packet, showing the picture of Shirota with a drug dealer as well as a list of drugs bought signed off to Shirota, "Here are records, clearly showing that Shirota did indeed buy drugs, and a lot of it." The silence continued to hold the crowd, "Now perhaps Mr. Sasazuka really couldn't find anything, but, certain events have led me to highly doubt that."

"Now jumping back to the day of the murder, Mr. Usui said earlier that many people in the investigation department—Mr. Sasazuka's department—were sent out on patrols. It is quite possible that he saw Miss Yako as he was going through on his rounds. By knowing that Miss Yako was home, he could make a plan to pin the blame on her, and unfortunately for Miss Yako, luck was on Mr. Sasazuka's side."

"That night, Mr. Sasazuka had to go 'guard' a mansion that was holding a dinner party. By chance, Mr. Shirota was there as well. Most likely, he saw Mr. Shirota as he was taking a look around the mansion and saw that he always wore gloves while cooking. That habit extended to his assistants as well. Mr. Maguri mentioned to me that Mr. Sasazuka spent quite a bit of time in the kitchens, and when he walked in to check what was he was doing; Mr. Maguri saw that he was talking to Mr. Shirota. Though I can not be too certain, I believe Mr. Sasazuka probably managed to find out where the knives came from; the Katsuragis. After that, sneaking in to steal the knives wouldn't have been too hard, although of course, he had to take care that he didn't get his own fingerprints on it."

"The party ended at 10:30, and all three policemen that Mr. Maguri hired were dismissed. Mr. Sasazuka then hurried to the Katsuragis' apartment. I should note that at this point, it was raining rather hard. Obviously, going in through the front door wasn't the answer. The window in Mr. Katsuragi's office was a choice. However, there was one more that no one seemed to think possible: the vents. Now, it is true that it would've been heard by other people, had the circumstances been normal, but it would seem that even the weather was on his side."

"Earlier this week, Miss Yako mentioned to me how a repairman that was in the vents sounded almost like rain. So imagine this, someone who knew how to quietly enter a place, (perhaps because he or she had the experience of a thief) not just some repairman, would the noise he or she created not be quieter? Also, the sounds that he or she might make would more or less blend in with the rain."

"Impossible," Yako opened her mouth, trying to force that word out, but the mouth simply closed again.

Neuro, who never noticed her, continued with only a brief pause, "Since it was rather cold that night, it was only natural that Miss Yako tried to get as warm as possible. In fact, she sat right under a vent opening. Miss Yako had prepared two cups of tea, one that she drank, and another empty one that she had set away, made for her father. At just about anytime from the vents, poison could've been dropped into the cup and if Miss Yako didn't pay attention, it would've never been noticed until it was too late."

"Then, Miss Yako, playing exactly as Mr. Sasazuka wanted, brought the tea to her father. Before going to sleep, she locked the door behind her, perhaps out of habit. In the vent in Mr. Katsuragi's office, Mr. Sasazuka simply waited until Mr. Katsuragi drank the tea. For whatever reason, it seems that it wasn't until much later that night he drank it. The poison started to work, causing Mr. Katsuragi to thrash about, breaking some vases and messing up the room all the while. Immediately, Mr. Sasazuka dropped from the vent and began to stab Mr. Katsuragi."

"No."

"However, it was then that things began to go awry. Miss Yako and Miss Aya both heard the crashes and came knocking at the door earlier than he expected. By then, the rain had stopped, giving no more cover to the sounds of moving in the vents. So, Mr. Sasazuka improvised. Taking a meter stick, he cut it to fit in between a closed window's edge and the wall framing it. Then, he opened the window and got out that way with the cut meter stick leaning against the open window. When he slid the window closed, the stick fell and filled in the gap between the wall's edge and the window's edge. Now, the window would be stuck and seem 'locked'. The meter stick itself is of a similar color to the window pane and would have blended in. Besides, with the mass of blood and corpse lying in the middle of a room, a cut off meter stick wouldn't exactly be particularly noticeable.

"Mr. Sasazuka then left by climbing down the ladder that leads into the alley. But now, yet another thing he didn't plan for happened: Someone saw him. Well, maybe not exactly saw 'him', but same difference. That someone was Mr. Shirota, who had gotten home rather late (he was held up at the party) and had to take care of a few last minute things in his kitchen. Obviously alarmed, Mr. Shirota rushed over to the Katsuragi residence, and by a stroke of luck for Mr. Sasazuka, did not yet tell anyone that he had seen someone leave that room. Mr. Sasazuka himself was waiting not too far away; as he had to make sure he was one of the first people back into the room thanks to his little improvising. Most likely, Mr. Sasazuka was hiding in an alley and saw Mr. Shirota head over to the Katsuragi residence. But, he still waited, and sure enough, Miss Yako called him. All he had to do was pretend he was still at home since he only has a cell phone, no home phone, he could say he was anywhere and there would be nothing to prove it otherwise. Except in this case, Mr. Sasazuka was bit too excited and ran over earlier than he should have."

"Why isn't he saying anything?"

"The rest was simple: Mr. Sasazuka entered the room and hid the meter stick while everyone else was too absorbed with the blood to notice. Mr. Shirota was the first person to be questioned, not too strange. However, recall how Mr. Usui mentioned how pale Mr. Shirota was when he came out. Why? Blackmail. There were drugs in the restaurant; Mr. Sasazuka just chose not to say anything about it. In return, he probably got a cut of the profit. But now, it didn't matter. I'm quite sure Mr. Shirota didn't exactly see Mr. Sasazuka as he was coming out of the room, but nonetheless, he had to be silenced. Mr. Sasazuka threatened to reveal the true nature of his restaurant to the world, and Mr. Shirota -- being someone who really cared about it -- agreed to keep quiet."

"Stop joking," Yako said, but it was nothing more than a whisper, easily ignored.

"However, not too long after that, I managed to make Mr. Shirota believe that I suspected him as the murderer and that there was plenty of evidence to support it. After a few days, Mr. Shirota broke down and was about to tell us everything. But yet again, luck was on Mr. Sasazuka's side. He was there, listening in on the conversation. He grabbed Miss Yako's cell phone and yelled into it. To us, it seemed like he was angry that Mr. Shirota hadn't said anything earlier, but for Mr. Shirota, it was a signal that Mr. Sasazuka was listening. So Mr. Shirota hung up."

"Following that, Mr. Sasazuka offered to use his police privileges to get to the front of the line and get us train tickets. When he returned, he said that the tickets for the train leaving the soonest were sold out, so instead, he had bought tickets for 20 minutes later. He then claimed that he had to go somewhere for an investigation. Mr. Ishigaki was sent elsewhere. From the waiting platform, I could see people getting into the train. This train station was the starting point for that train, so it was empty beforehand. But when people began to board the train, only a handful went in; hardly enough to fill it. Mr. Sasazuka boarded that train, snuck in, I should say. It was either a disguise, or he followed a crowd in. I suspect the former."

Liar, liar.

"The rest was simple. Mr. Sasazuka went to Mr. Shirota's apartment, and killed him. He left immediately afterwards to wherever he was supposed to go. Not too long later, Miss Yako and I arrived there as well." Neuro was finished, and yet not a person spoke. Not even Mr. Sasazuka. He just sat there in the questioning area staring straight ahead. Not at Neuro, not at Yako, not anybody, just…ahead.

"Why won't you say anything?" Yako asked quietly, gritting her teeth to keep the trembles out of her voice, "It's not true, right, Mr. Sasazuka?"

"Now, Miss Yako," Neuro said, a smile still on his face, "I wouldn't lie. Please, don't be so troublesome." The last word was delivered with an edge, threatening her.

But for once, she ignored it and snapped back, "You haven't known Mr. Sasazuka as long as I have! He wouldn't do anything like that!" She turned jerkily to him, "Right?"

Sasazuka stared ahead.

"You've known my dad since you were in college! He helped you through, remember?!"

Sasazuka stayed silent.

"You!" she turned back to Neuro, a strange light in her eyes. Her breathing came in unevenly, to the court, she may have appeared insane. "You're joking. You're joking. Th-this is one of your stupid ideas for mental abuse, right? Yeah…"

The expression on Neuro's face told of someone repressing the strong desire to laugh. It was amusing to him, to see Yako like this. "Oh, I assure you, what I told the court is completely true."

Liar, liar, liar.

"Mr. Sasazuka is the crimi--"

"No!" Yako screamed, "A monster killed dad! Mr. Saszuka isn't one!"

For a moment, Neuro seemed to be too surprised to say anything, but the confused look was soon replaced by his usual one. "Well, I suppose you are right, Miss Yako."

Yako froze. "You mean," she started slowly, "That…that…!" Her head shot up, starting to turn red in anger, "That was just one of your sick ideas of a joke?!"

"Not at all," Neuro replied, completely unperturbed, "However, for now at least, Mr. Sasazuka, would you please step off ?"

He stepped off, but there was no energy in his steps. Sasazuka moved like a puppet forced along by strings, and should those strings be cut, he would fall. Yako tried to make eye contact with him, any sign, no matter how small, would do.

Sasazuka continued to stare ahead.

"Mrs. Kaku Ayumi, will you please come up?"

A brown haired woman who had been staring as everyone else in the crowd had jumped slightly when she heard her name called. "O-oh right, me." With uncertain steps, she moved to the front and sat down. Her face was pale with an expression that looked as if she were being tried for something. "More likely her than Mr. Sasazuka…right?"

"Miss Ayumi, you were neighbors with the Sasazuka family 10 years ago, correct?" Neuro asked.

Kaku Ayumi blinked several times and shook herself before answering meekly, "Yes,"

"And you were the one to call the police?"

An even quieter 'yes'.

"Would you mind telling us about the day the Sasazuka family was murdered? That is, if you remember."

The woman smiled a small smile. "There some things," she said, now with a little confidence, "That you will never forget."

---x---x---x---x---x---

It's a strange feeling. No, that's an understatement. This feeling of detachment, I don't like it. I've lost something.

There are certain things that will keep you grounded, sure of your 'self'. It's a type of gravity, the type that pulls your mind and keeps it where it should be. All the pieces are put in the correct places by that law of gravity, and in doing so, your 'self' is created. When something significant happens and change is needed, the gravity moves the pieces around, and you're changed. I'm a different person from before my mom died. I'm a different person from before dad died too, I know that. But the gravity had always remained intact because there was still someone I could believe in, depend on. There was always a core I could trust.

The gravity has disappeared.

I know who I am, I think, but, what's the truth anymore? I can't tell. The things I've held on to and believed were true all these years, they've been proven false so quickly this past week. Even the nature of his family's death, that was false too. "They died in a car accident…" Dad…you lied. And being the 'dad-is-always-right' believing kid I was, I believe you. I once thought that the gravity was a law, but now, it's just a theory again.

Or was it always just that?

I don't know where I stand anymore, and I hate this uncertainty.

The woman is speaking. "There are some things, that you will never forget."

White walls in a cubical room, but just a single wave of red changes its color. The red turns darker and darker until it blends into the dark. My vision is shrinking too, a circle is slowly closing. Maybe I'm going crazy. It really doesn't take much, does it? The dark looks inviting, it promises rest.

But I want the white back. I want the red to disappear. I want this to be over already.

Maybe I'm asking too much.

---x---x---x---x---x---

Neuro noticed the vacant expression on Yako's face, it wasn't one he was accustomed with. Her body was still shaking slightly and she had swayed once or twice, appearing as though she was about to topple over. "This is getting troublesome. She'll become useless at his rate." He leaned near Yako and quietly said, "Pull yourself together, cockroach. You wanted the truth, so stop whatever ridiculous pity party you're throwing yourself," he allowed himself a small, razor-sharp grin, "Because if you don't, I will break your spine in so many places that it can't even be called a spine anymore."

A tint of red flushed Yako's face as she gave him a glare, "I won't believe this until you prove it. So go already, I'm fine."

His mouth closed over his teeth, turning friendly again, "That's wonderful, Miss Yako!" Neuro turned back to the woman, "Now, please do tell us that interesting story you have, Mrs. Kaku."

---x----x---x---x---x---

It was ten years ago.

The temperature was hot beyond belief. If she just cracked an egg on the sidewalk, Ayumi was certain that the egg would be cooked as well as it would've had she used a frying pan. She stuck her tongue out in a dog-like manner in an attempt to cool herself, but to no avail. The straps of plastic grocery bags dug into her fingers. "And I thought it was just a short walk," she muttered to herself, "Oh well." The sun was almost beginning to set anyways, so it could've been worse. Besides, Ayumi had already reached her house.

"Big brother, you're horrible!" a girl shouted. Ayumi nearly dropped her bags and turned to see a dark-haired girl yelling into her cellphone in a sort of mock anger. After giving the person on the phone a moment to speak, the girl spoke again, "Yeah, yeah. You better come back home tonight like you promised. It's been what, three weeks already?" Another pause, "So! You could at least make some time for your own family," she grumbled, "…whatever you say. See you tonight." The girl snapped her phone shut before turning her attention to Ayumi, who was bending down on the sidewalk, picking up a few apples that had been dropped.

The girl gave a small yelp, "I'm sorry! Was that my fault?"

"Oh no, it's fine, Mamori."

Sasazuka Mamori…

"I wasn't paying too much attention, the heat, you know? The noise was just a bit sudden, that's all."

I never wouldn't guessed…

Mamori stooped down to pick up the remaining couple of apples anyways and deposited them back in the bag. The last apple she held a bit longer, however, and she smiled as she remembered something. "I heard something funny from dad the other day, he says that someone has a strange idea for these apples," she laughed as she put that apple in the bag as well, "I think it's a farmer. Anyways, the guy wants to make apples into cubes."

"Cubes?" Ayumi said skeptically, "And what use would that be?"

Mamori shrugged, "I dunno, maybe it'll be easier to stack inside grocery markets or something."

"I think I'll stick to the round ones," Ayumi said.

"Why? Cubes too weird for you?"

"Something like that, by the way, why were you yelling?"

"Because my brother was trying to be funny, but failed miserably," she replied, "He actually said that he wouldn't come home tonight of all nights, and he's always been here for this."

"Oh right, it's your birthday today, isn't it?"

"Yup," Mamori said, nodding, "He's already been gone for three weeks, it'll almost be like a reunion when I see him again."

"Three weeks isn't that long," Ayumi reminded the girl.

"It is if you're used to seeing that person every day of your life," she said, already turning back to her house, "Bye, Miss Ayumi! Come by tonight if you can!"

That that was the last time I would see her alive.

---x---x---x---x--x---

Ayumi was alone in her house, her mother and father having decided to eat dinner with just the two of them. She sighed. Usually, she enjoyed the lack of her parents; it gave her an opportunity to loosen herself up, the watchful eyes of her parents no longer on her. But tonight, something weighed her mind. She wanted children later on, that was certain, but could she ever show her true 'self' anymore? After all, if those children saw anything but beautiful things, they would turn out wicked, and Ayumi most certainly did not want that. She had to practice putting her usual, amiable front forward 24/7, even if no one was watching. A difficult thing to do, already, Ayumi was feeling urges. Why, if something didn't go boom soon, she would make it.

"Oh dear," Ayumi muttered when she noticed her overly tight grip on the chair. She stood and walked to the kitchen. The knives looked so very shiny. They weren't her style, but they were tempting nonetheless. From the knives, her eyes strayed over to the stove. Why, if she could simply get the correct mixture, even a small fire from that could make things go boom. And how she wanted for something to go boom. Her eyes wandered back to the knives. Ayumi had never stabbed anyone before, something explosive always released her feelings more, but maybe stabbing was just as fun? Her hand took the knife. Human flesh, what would it be like to cut through it? The corners of Ayumi's mouth twitched upwards.

She peeled an apple instead, watching the red skin fall away easily to reveal the pale flesh under it. The peels were caught in a plate. Sure, the skin wasn't as sweet as the white part of the apple, but it definitely held more vitamins. The knife was set back in its proper place.

Ayumi's gaze glanced towards the window and directly at the Sasazuka family's house. It was eight and Mr. Sasazuka should've returned from work already. The lights in the window were turned off. Deeper within the house, a cake probably had candles lit up all over it.

"Come by tonight if you can!"

Well, it wasn't like she had anything better to do. And yet… Ayumi bit her lower lip and focused her gaze on the house. She didn't want to go over there. Something in the back of her head just said 'no'. The voice at the back of her head was her master, and she had never disobeyed it before. Ayumi wasn't about to start now.

---x---x---x---x---x---

It was an interesting book. The setting was vivid, especially the descriptions of the plant life. Coupled with that night's heat which really transported her to the jungles, Ayumi nearly lost herself in it until a scream shocked her out of her reverie. It was sharp, but abruptly cut off. She rolled her eyes. Stupid kids, what were they screaming about now? She glanced hopefully at the window, looking for anyone else who would go out of their home to see what the racket was. Too bad no one bothered. Well, it couldn't be anything serious.

As she was about to return to her book, Ayumi once again looked over at the Sasazuka family's house. The lights were still off, and not a hint of light could be seen. The clock read nearly 10 o'clock, why were the lights off still? It had already been two hours.

'Go back to your book," her master demanded.

Ayumi tried to obey, but a nagging discomfort wouldn't leave her. There was just something about that house that was off…It was a birthday, the lights should be on, brightening the room and its atmosphere.

But the house was completely dark.

Try as she might, the book could no longer hold her interest. Finally, Ayumi stood and walked out of her house. Her master demanded that she return to her house, but for once, Ayumi decided that she wanted something else. She wanted to know if there was anything wrong in that house.

'Curiosity killed the cat.'

"Good thing I'm a dog, then."

---x---x---x---x---x---

As she walked next door, Ayumi was completely alone on the streets. Not even a single night time jogger was out from what she could see by the street lights. Across the streets, the lights in a room were turned on, a figure bent over a desk, preceding with whatever they were doing.

'What are you doing?'

She wondered that herself and quickened her pace. In seconds, Ayumi stood in front of the Sasazuka house. She rang the door bell. It was one of those default ones with the two short bell chimes, the ones that were crisp. But the sound seemed to vibrate nonetheless in the noiseless house.

Completely silence greeted me.

"And I thought it was a party," Ayumi said to herself, partially trying to make that into a joke and comfort herself. No one came to answer the door either. Was it too late at night? No, Mamori would never sleep this early on her birthday. She rang again. No answer. And again. "Hello?" Her hand grabbed the door handle, and to her surprise, Ayumi found that it was unlocked. "I'm coming in."

At first, she was cautious, only opening the door a crack. But then, her eyes flew open and Ayumi flung open the door, disbelieving what she saw.

Red everywhere. On floor, slowly drying into a rust colored spot. On the walls, running down until it formed in a collection at the intersection with the floor. There was even a faint handprint, as if someone had been running desperately, wounded, and had to cling to the walls for support. Her lungs were in pain; she had forgotten to breath. With just one breath of the air from the house, the pungent smell of blood overtook her. This house was one filled with decay, it had the stench of death, and it would never be wiped away. There was also something else in the air, a strange smell of burning. Whatever it was, the stench disgusted Ayumi until she wanted to vomit. She turned her head towards the source of the smell and a saw a dim glow deeper within the house. Shakily, Ayumi took a step in. Then another. She covered her nose with her hands to fight back to sick feeling in the pit of her stomach as she felt the blood soaked floor sink where she stepped. The closer she got to the source, the warmer it grew, but something else as well. There was a peculiar, sticky feeling on Ayumi's skin, one that she felt she should know, but could not remember from where. It felt a bit like humid air from the tropics, but she knew it wasn't.

A fire was burning merrily in the hearth, it's mellow glow pushing back the dark on the walls of the living room. It's heat pushed at Ayumi, it really did almost feel like a dream. The family picture hanging on the wall looked absolutely absurd. There were four people, all smiling even though they were drenched in blood. On the table, scraps of food were still left uneaten, that too now swathed in crimson. On the floor were three unopened boxes of presents. Next to the fireplace crouched a figure feeding more wood to the fire, making it flare up even more. Ayumi took another step forward.

"Eishi?"

"Happy birthday," the figure whispered, to whom, she wasn't sure, "Go ahead, open the box. Open it."

Ayumi's eyes fell back to what she had supposed were gift boxes and realized that they weren't. They were glass boxes, all crystal clear. Clear enough for you to see the ground up entrails of a human body. A scream began to work it's way up her throat.

She recalled the news of a psycho criminal who was beginning to make his name known: Monster Robber X.I. A thief who stole valuables and nearly always took a victim whose body he would send back to the family the next day, ground up, and packed up in a 'red box'.

These were red boxes.

"Traffic was horrible," Sasazuka said, still facing the fire, "Almost missed it." His back was turned to everything, perhaps he wanted to forget that it even existed.

"I-I'm going to go call the police," Ayumi choked out. She had to get out of this house. The stench of gore and whatever it was coming from the fire alone was enough to drive her mad.

As she walked out of the house, a warm breeze blew in her direction, somewhat snapping her out of her daze. "So, that's what a knife can do."

"I'll stick to explosions."

---x---x---x---x---x---

"After I got back to my house, I called the police and not long afterwards, I heard them arrive."

"Did you go back to the house?"

Kaku Ayumi shuddered, "Absolutely not. Once was enough. I'm not sure what I could've done even if I had went back, Eishi really seemed…out of it. I doubt he had even heard anything I said to him."

Yako looked over at Sasazuka. He didn't seem to notice anything, there was still a glassy look in his eyes as he started straight ahead. He was completely detached, floating in space as though this didn't concern him. "I wonder if he hears anything right now."

Neuro turned back to the jury, "I realize I have given you how he did it, but no motive. And I suppose they always have to have a motive," here, there was just a hint of sarcasm in his voice, "So, I'll give one right now, and please, say nothing until I finish completely."

"First off, let me tell you a bit about what was in the room. There were the normal office supplies, chairs, a table, some design plans for buildings, and also, three vases. Each was a different color, and all three were supposedly broken that night. Out of the three of them, there was a particular red one that held the most value. That vase was the penultimate work of Eshiya Tougo. The figures formed by that vase have caused some to believe that Mr. Eshiya predicted his one death with that piece."

"Predicted his death…" Yako thought back, vague images of the vase returned. It was red, but that was just the simple way to explain it. No matter how she had looked at it, Yako always felt that the vase forever was covered in a fresh coat of blood. The shade of red covering it seemed to be just the right shade. It had a strange foundation as well. Instead of a normal, flat bottom, Eshiya had made molded it into the form of a man whose face was contorted in agony, limbs bent into angles that told of a final struggle for life. On the back of this man was the vase itself, crushing him under it's weight. Faint lines of sinisterly smiling faces covered every inch of the main part of vase. Indeed it seemed that he had predicted his death; two months later, Eshiya Tougo was killed when one of his heavier works crushed him.

In the back row, Maguri shifted uncomfortably.

"It wasn't sold for very much at the time just like every other piece by Mr. Eshiya during that period. His career was at a low point compared to the prestige he had held before. The vase was sold for such a cheap price that even a college student could buy it, and one did; Mr. Sasazuka. The vase was then given to an acquaintance of the Sasazuka family who was helping him through college: Mr. Katsuragi. However, if you take a look at the detailed report of the crime scene, which was written by Mr. Sasazuka no less, the vase was never mentioned. The two other vases are accounted for, but the one by Mr. Eshiya isn't. Why? I believe it is because Mr. Sasazuka stole it, and that, that is part of the motive."

Immediately, Yako wanted to object, but Neuro seemed to notice equally fast, turned to her and said, "I know that you want to say, 'Not for a stupid vase!' Right, Miss Yako? Maybe you even want to say, 'He bought it in the first place, why would Mr. Sasazuka kill the person he gave it to just to get it back?' Well I'll give you the answer."

He turned back to the jury. "Now then," Neuro said, now pulling out yet another (smaller) stack of papers from the folder on the table, "Allow me to add to Miss Kaku's…interesting story." He held up a photo, "This is a picture of the crime scene, the first one taken in fact. Notice now that the fire Miss Kaku mentioned is put out. Normal enough, it was a hot day, the police don't want a fire in a already stuffy house. However, look closely at the fireplace and you'll see that there are no ashes at all in there. The police wouldn't have done this, they would've put out the fire, but anything else would be left as it is to preserve the crime scene. The ashes would've been left in place. So why is the fireplace so clean? The answer is: Mr. Sasazuka cleaned out the fireplace before the police arrived. No one would know, Miss Kaku, the only one who saw the fire, never went back." A smirk lifted the corners of his mouth and Neuro walked away from the jury and towards where Mr. Sasazuka sat.

"Here's something very interesting; the odor that got stronger Miss Kaku went towards the fire? Burning human flesh." The heels of his shoes made low thuds on the floor.

"The stickiness? When bodies are burned, the grease spreads into the air, making your lips stick to together." Tap. Tap.

"And just what was he burning? Liquefied human viscera. The same things that filled the rest of the other three red boxes."

Neuro stopped in Mr. Sasazuka's row, smiling down on him as a predator would smile at the thought of consuming his prey. The other people sitting near him scooted as far away as they could. Mr. Sasazuka himself gave little notice. "Just what are you getting at?" he finally said.

"You're not really Sasazuka Eishi, are you?"

"Oh?" Sasazuka was now smiling too, his voice filled with a strange, malicious glee that Yako had never heard before. "And just who else could I be?"

"Stop playing around and show me your real form," Neuro said, his eyes rolled upwards, as though he had no interest.

"Kaitou X."

---x---x---x---x---x---

A/N: The recent Neuro chapters (175-182) are made of so much win. Well, I apologize for this chapter's lateness and content in general!

Oh right, and Ayumi wouldn't have actually said all that stuff going through her head to the court, but you as readers are lucky (maybe) and get to hear/read! :D