A Night to Remember

To say Yako hadn't slept a wink that night wasn't exaggerating. Neuro had purposefully kept her up the entire night. Yako began to find breathing difficult and replayed the series of events that led to her current circumstance.

Flashback

The maid had led them to a room that was on the second floor, located in the furthest wing of the house. Yako thought that maybe the old man had some perverseness hidden behind that blinding smile of his. As she thought of the night that was about to unfold Yako couldn't help but frown.

Yako bolted towards the master bathroom once they were in the room, not that it would stop Neuro if he really wanted to break in, but it left her with a sense of security. Her thoughts had been disturbed by a knock, "Are you going to come out of there any time?"

Again nervousness overcame her and she found it hard to think, "In a minute."

Taking a couple more deep breaths Yako built up her courage enough to leave the bathroom. Opening the door and looking around the room Yako noticed that Neuro wasn't in sight. Thinking she had gotten lucky she took the time to appreciate the room itself.

A large canopy bed was connected to the back wall placed between two windows that overlooked the dark forest outside. Her eyes led her to the small living area; there she saw a couch and two air chairs placed around a coffee table. The only word Yako could use describe it was elegance. She turned around and looked into the bathroom she had locked herself in for fifteen minutes and marveled at the detail of it all. The whole room had been made of marble even the tube that rose from the floor. The vanity was large and equipped with cosmetics that Yako was sure no one had touched in decades. Deciding that the time for appreciating was over she quickly changed into the pajamas she packed and jumped into bed.

"Took you long enough," a cool voice stated.

Yako's heart stopped as her eyes snapped open and she came face to face with Neuro. Hanging from the top of the canopy Neuro had a grin plastered on his face as she took in the surprise in Yako's eyes.

"What…what are you doing Neuro!?"

"Sleeping, what does it look like?"

"You scared the crap out of me! Do you have any idea what would have happened if I had screamed and people would have come rushing in!"

"No, not that I care," the playful tone in his voice didn't match the bored expression he showed, "It's not any of their business anyway."

"You're hopeless." Yako rolled her eyes and tried to remember the last time she had seen Neuro this way, managing to recall none.

As Yako tried to ignore Neuro and sleep she felt something hot burn through her pillow. Grimacing internally Yako opened her eyes to see drool coming from Neuro's mouth. As the acid-like drool hit the bed it began to corrode the material. Recalling the time the two had shared a room at the onsen, she had spent the entire night awake then too.

Yako attempted to leave the bed and was stopped by a simple statement from Neuro, "Don't even think about it slug." With all hopes of sleeping cut short Yako spent the rest of the night dodging Neuro's acid drool.

By the time Yako realized that Neuro's drool had stopped the sun had begun to rise and sleep escaped her. Rising from bed Yako headed for her suitcase and went to the bathroom to change cloths. Looking into vanity Yako noticed the bags under her eyes and began to yawn. After completing her morning ritual Yako returned to the room and looked under the top of the canopy to wake Neuro up. Before she could complete her task she found a leg keeping her head pinned to the ceiling.

"Looking for something?"

"Not anymore," Yako said with a constricted trachea. Trying to push herself free Yako quickly realized the battle was pointless.

End

A knock had interrupted her train of thought and she found herself dropped just as quickly as she was pinned up.

"Come in," Neuro's nonexistent innocence replied.

"Mr. Tanaka is waiting for you in the dining room." The voice sounding familiar to one of the maids' Yako opened the door and saw Miss Matsuri on the other side.

"Could you lead the way?"

"Of course Miss." The maid turned swiftly to the direction of the stairs and Yako followed two steps behind, not worried about Neuro's absence.

Coming down the stairs and making a right Yako was led through a double door room that contained a large 16 person dining table with Mr. Tanaka siting at the head.

"I hope you slept well." His voice booming from the echo the room provided.

"Magnificently," a voice from behind Yako answered and sent her jumping towards the ceiling.

A chuckle escaped Mr. Tanaka's lips as he saw Yako return to normal. "You two have an interesting relationship. How long have you been together?"

"We've known each other for five years, three of them were spent together," Neuro answered. A soft wince came from Yako as she thought of the three years he was gone and their unpleasant reunion.

"No wonder you know each other so well, are you two going to get married anytime soon."

As soon as 'married' left Mr. Tanaka's lips Neuro burst into laughter. Quickly regaining his composures Neuro smiled and was about to answer when Yako cut him off.

"I refuse to marry someone like him." A cold tone and straight face was the only thing Mr. Tanaka and Neuro saw when they stared at Yako.

"I see…may I know the reason why." Mr. Tanaka's curiosity got the best of him as he asked the question and quickly regretted it when he saw the look on Yako's face, "Never mind that question was awfully personal."

"Can we get to the reason behind our arrival to the island?" Yako's need to change the subject was answered.

"As you wish, please take a seat before we begin. Miss Matsuri you are dismissed and please close the door on your way out."

"Certainly sir," quickly leaving she bowed before leaving the room and silently shut the door.

With a sigh Mr. Tanaka began the explanation, "People in the mansion have started disappearing, in two months' time four people have gone missing. First it was the cook then two maids, and now the gardener. It is becoming difficult to find staff that is willing to work here. I need you to find out what happened to them."

"What do you think happened?" Yako asked.

"I think they were killed, but Jintao keeps telling me I'm overreacting."

"Are you certain they were killed? They could have simply left without informing you." Yako knew how strange it sounded. Most people would tell their employer before leaving and four people in two months is drastic, but Yako needed a base line. Without some place to start she was just as lost as Ishigaki.

"I'm an understandable employer Miss Katsuragi. I would have offered vacation time or more money, but they all disappeared. Their belongings are still in the mansion, they've been untouched. " Mr. Tanaka's voice reflected the worry he held for past and current employees.

"I see. We'll need a list of all employees and anyone who's been on the island these past two months. If we could have access to the rooms of the employees that have disappeared that would also help."

"Anything you need Miss Katsuragi."

"Jinsei, how long has Mr. Jintao worked for you?" Yako's suspicious nature began to think of possible suspects.

"Since I got married to my wife; almost 30 years now."

"How old is Mr. Jintao?" Yako asked finding it hard to believe the man was over forty years old.

"Jintao is only ten years younger than me."

"And that would make him…"

"My apologies with my old age I forget some things. I didn't realize how unacquainted we were, Jintao is fifty-six years old."

Yako's eyes popped out of her head. She was certain the guy was forty just then she recalled a mystery she had worked on while Neuro was away. A French man had killed babies and bathed himself in their blood because he believed it would keep him young. Could Mr. Jintao be the same way? Is that why he murdered the four employees?

"Thank you very much for the help Jinsei, but sensei wants to explore the island now," Neuro cut in.

"Be my guest, do you need a guide? I'm sure Jintao would be happy to show you around. He knows this island like the back of his hand."

"It's alright; sensei really wants it to be just the two of us." Yako blushed at the insinuation Neuro made and she saw that Mr. Tanaka was lightly chuckling.

"I understand exactly what you mean Mr. Nogami, I was once young."

Yako shot from her seat and with a flushed face excused herself.

"If you'll excuse me Jinsei, it seems sensei is in a rush." Neuro rose and headed for the direction of the door.

Neuro arrived outside and noticed that Yako was almost off the perimeter of the mansion. He smirked at the idea that passed through his head and flew in her direction.

Yako had made it half way to the gate when she was suddenly tossed over Neuro's shoulder and heard him say, "Shall we solve this mystery?" as he flew off.

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