Memories of Murder:
Chapter 3:
Sebastian had gained another puzzle piece to help Ciel. There was a chance that he could get some more if he fished around for information.
"Was there not an investigation into his disappearance?" he asked.
Violet shrugged. "I don't know that much. I had heard that Vincent Phantomhive did make an effort to find him and suddenly gave up."
He filed that away to add to the list of suspicious circumstances surrounding Ciel. Perhaps the person behind it was more powerful than his parents and had quashed the investigation. It was always interesting to see where money and power got you.
The idea of approaching the two Phantomhives did not seem wise. How was he supposed to preface his questions? Your son is a ghost that haunts my school and only I can see him did not sound like a good conversation opener. In addition they looked like they had had enough of everything.
He would have to find information out through other methods. He turned back to Violet who was now working his way through a plate of sushi.
"Did he go to our school?"
He looked annoyed at being interrupted again. "I don't know. The Phantomhives don't socialise enough for anyone to know. Gossip is all there is."
The lack of information regarding Ciel and his schooling tied in with the destruction of the yearbook.
He moved targets to the boy in his history class. He was ducked behind a large centrepiece of flowers to hide that he was texting on his phone. Clearly he enjoyed social functions as much as Sebastian did. If he remembered correctly he was called Derrick Arden and was the laziest boy in the class.
The conversation started off casually enough until Sebastian started asking certain questions.
"How corrupt do you think the school board is?"
Derrick was unconcerned by the change in topic.
"Aren't most privately funded schools a bit corrupt? Our school is no different. Most students are connected to family businesses like we both are. I think the original school buildings that have been replaced with newer ones originally belonged to a pharmaceutical company that the headmaster owned. There's suspicious ties everywhere," he narrated in a blasé manner.
"With that attitude you don't sounds like you want to take over the family business," Sebastian commented dryly.
"Fuck no," Derrick laughed. "I'm going take great enjoyment in turning it down when my parents die."
The next day brought lots of rain and wind. Being a tall person Sebastian found himself being constantly bashed with umbrellas on the way to school. He was also drenched and felt a feeling of relief when he divested himself of his dripping raincoat in the entrance of the library.
Ciel was waiting for him in the study area as promised.
"From the look on your face you look like you found something out and your hair is a mess," he observed.
Ruefully Sebastian adjusted his fringe. He had no idea why he had wished for rain when he had first arrived- it messed up his hair.
"You're right on both counts."
He stared at Ciel. It should been obvious he was titled. He had a straight posture and looked at ease with crossing his legs. Not many boys could pull that off without feeling stupid.
"What did you find?"
"Your parents and by default, your surname."
Ciel leaned forward eagerly. "What is it?"
"Phantomhive."
Ciel's face lit up. "That does sound right. It must be it."
Sebastian cleared his throat. The brat was missing something.
"Say thank you and I will tell you about your parents."
Ciel's demeanour instantly changed. His eyes widened and he smiled adorably. "Thank you, Sebastian."
That stunned Sebastian into silence before he noticed what was strange.
"How do you know my name? I never did tell you."
"I sat at the back of one of your classes once. You were so fixated on the board you never turned around. The teacher does not seem to hold out much hope for you to learn to write in Japanese."
It had to have been a Japanese lesson Ciel had seen him in. He was top of the class in all his other subjects. If Ciel had visited one of this other classes and seen how superior he was, he might have stopped implying that he had low intellect.
"The teacher is overcompensating for the fact that I started learning it later on."
The clock on the wall caught his eye. It was a modern art clock which meant funky shapes and no numbers. It also showed that he had five minutes before his first lesson which was halfway across the school.
He hastily stood up and arranged to meet in the room where the mystery club met after school.
The first thing that Sebastian thought when he met the line up of the after school mystery club was that the club was really unpopular this year.
Sitting around the table was Finny, his smoke ridden friend Bardroy, yet another English boy called William Spears and the only female, a redhead named Mey-Rin. He also learned that Finny was the current president of the club and Mey-Rin was the secretary.
"Is this everyone?" he asked.
Finny coughed awkwardly. "Yes it is."
"We don't even have any students from the school this year," Bardroy added and that allowed Sebastian to work out that he was American from his accent.
"I maintain my theory that everyone who was interested in joining saw Bardroy and ran away," William commented dryly.
Out of the corner of his eye Sebastian spotted Ciel shaking with laughter. People with titles could be so cold sometimes.
Finny coughed again. "That's why we are going to lure people back by solving the Seven Mysteries."
Sebastian thought it best to ask now rather than look like an idiot later when it became obvious he did not know what the Seven Mysteries were or why they needed solving. He should have done more research into Japanese school culture before he moved to Japan.
"What are the 'Seven Mysteries'?"
It was William who answered his question in a concise manner.
"The Seven Mysteries are a part of most schools in Japan. They are seven separate mysteries connected to the school. What is important is that they are horror based unsolved mysteries."
The basis in horror explained why he had never heard of the concept.
Finny continued on. "They're usually generic stories. Mysteriously moving anatomy models, moving staircases and things like that."
Sebastian waited for further information. If they were as generic and fake sounding as that, why were they bothering to investigate? It was not going to help solve Ciel's mystery. He might just drop out of the club now.
"This school has a very unique Seven Mysteries which is why we want to investigate. There is chance they might have a grain of truth," Mey-Rin explained.
"What are the Seven Mysteries that are unique to the school?"
Finny held up a finger. "First is the blood filled well, second is the cherry blossom tree that sucked the blood of the dead body buried underneath, next is the self playing piano in the music room, the twelve steps that became thirteen steps, the body hanging from the statue, the bloody face at the window and finally the electrocuting light in the science lab," he narrated in a dramatic manner with wide eyes.
Sebastian stared at him.
"I see," was all he could say.
This territory was unfamiliar to him. He really needed to become acquainted with the horror genre. Ciel on the other hand looked highly enthralled. There was a chance the situation would be much better if he was the ghost and Ciel was the one investigating his murder.
"They are certainly unique here, but all you have done is find out what they are," William observed critically. "How are we supposed to investigate them with that scant amount of information?"
Finny's eyes moistened and he frowned. Bardroy patted him on the arm and stepped in.
"Why don't you suggest how we investigate then?"
"Why don't you ask the new member of the club?" William was unperturbed by the question. "Remember how useless Finnian's previous recruit was?"
The four of them turned to face Sebastian with inquisitive eyes. He noticed that Ciel was also staring at him from his perch on the table in the corner. Sebastian wracked his mind for ideas. The Seven Mysteries sounded like a game of Chinese Whispers- the information became different when it was passed from person to person.
"You need to find out when each of them first started. The current mysteries may not be the original seven."
Mey-Rin started taking notes and even William was beginning to look impressed.
"Anymore ideas?"
Sebastian recalled the yearbooks stored in the cupboard and realised something significant.
"If the Seven Mysteries are such an essential part of Japanese schools and the mystery club has been going for at least ten years, why has the club never investigated them before?"
"That is a very good point," William conceded and readjusted his glasses. "I admit to not considering that before."
Sebastian tried not to feel smug about besting William and failed. Ciel raised an eyebrow at him.
"Actually I found something when I was organising the cupboard after the last meeting," Mey-Rin announced. "The Seven Mysteries were investigated six years ago in 2010."
"There's no photos in the yearbook of that in the yearbook so how do you know?" Finny wanted to know.
"I have the minutes of the meeting," she explained and drew out an extremely crumpled and discoloured sheet of paper. "It was wedged in the panelling at the back of the cupboard and was hidden by the old club diaries."
"May I see?" Sebastian asked and was handed the sheet of paper.
He smoothed it out. The paper was titled with 'Mysteries of the school meeting- role allocation' in neat handwriting alongside the date which was March 2010. It was exactly the right timeframe for Ciel to be alive.
The roles were all initialised instead of showing full names and the ink had faded considerably so a large amount of them were unreadable. He managed to make out an important set of initials and the relevant role.
C.P- investigation of the staircase- top floor- clubroom block
Perhaps investigating the Seven Mysteries would be the key they needed to solve Ciel's murder.
Sebastian pocketed the sheet of paper once the surprise of finding out the Seven Mysteries had been investigated before had died down. He seemed to be building a collection of items related to Ciel.
He considered the use of the word 'clubhouse' on the sheet of paper. He had a map of the school and there definitely wasn't a clubhouse on there. It also brought up a question of timeframe.
"Assuming that the Seven Mysteries are true, would they be part of this school building? This building seems to be only a few years old," he pointed out.
The exterior of the building was gleamingly new and the interior was modern too. The furniture wasn't too ruined by chewing gum and graffiti either. A thing he had discovered by attending different schools was that the age of tables and chairs could be ascertained by assessing the level of chewing gum and doodles underneath.
William nodded. "You are correct. Some blocks of this building are very new. Other parts are a little older. In my first year, the science block was under construction and we had to use the older laboratories in the old building."
From that he gathered William was a final year student unlike the rest of them.
"Is the old building still here?"
"Interestingly yes. It was mainly used for clubs, only the labs were used for lessons."
Sebastian produced his map of the school grounds and double checked for an additional building. William saw his map and leaned over to point in the middle of the woods.
"It is strange, but it is there hidden in the trees. The trees were planted as they were closing the old building down."
That sounded like yet another cover up by the school. The question was why? It would be much easier to knock down the old building if its existence needed to be concealed.
"I never knew there was anything there," Finny commented in amazement.
"This is Tokyo. Land is really expensive here. It could have been sold off to someone else," Mey-Rin said.
"The school wouldn't sell it off to a business- it would be right next to school grounds," Bardroy observed.
"I have a more likely suggestion," William interjected. "Nostalgic value. That building is the original building the school started from."
Sebastian had no idea which suggestion was right. They all knew the school much better than he did. He looked over at Ciel. He should know the school well and even better than them. Instead Ciel looked strangely pale and shaken. Sebastian turned back to the others before one of them could accuse him of staring into space.
"Personally it sounds like you would find the Seven Mysteries in that building, not this one," he suggested to wrap up their disagreement.
He would have to talk to Ciel after and find out what was wrong. Also on his list was to persuade the other members to investigate the old building.
They all seemed to shrink back at his suggestion which did not feel right. Weren't people like them supposed to love trespassing? Maybe the school had a very good discipline system and he was reminiscing about Enid Blyton characters that were in the habit of trespassing to solve mysteries.
"It does not sound wise to explore, I am not breaking into there," William answered cautiously.
"Perhaps if we had the key," Finny said.
"If we did, we would have to do it at night," Mey-Rin added. "Someone would be likely to see us if we went in during the day."
"That sounds really scary," Bardroy shivered.
Sebastian was inclined to agree somewhat. He did not get scared easily, but there was something sinister about this school.
He waited until the other four packed up and left before he talked to Ciel.
"You are not constrained by locks, you can go in there."
Ciel glared at him which was not an unusual occurrence. It did not have the usual power behind it though. Sebastian took a closer look at him. He was looking pale and wide eyed.
"Are you too scared to go there?" he asked on the off chance he was right.
Ciel averted his eyes which provided him with the answer.
"There are places that I am too scared to go. The head teacher's office, the doctor or nurse's room- that one might be a fear of needles though and that creepy building in the woods."
His fear sounded perplexing, but then he did not know much about ghosts. Shouldn't people be the ones afraid of them? He had only been scared that seeing Ciel meant he had gone mad. Ciel was not scary at all. He was just an occasionally adorable brat.
"Can you at least tell me what it looks like?" he enquired. "I know we were by the woods yesterday and you appeared to be fine."
"You have to go much deeper to see it. It's small compared to the school and all the windows are boarded up."
Ciel's description added to the creepiness factor of the building. The idea of going into the woods by himself in the middle of the night was mildly unnerving.
"Would you be less scared if you went with me?"
"Maybe," Ciel looked unsure. "I would prefer it if there were more people around. It's for your safety."
Sebastian blinked. Ciel was worried about him. How touching. He would have to add that onto his mental assessment of his battiness as an improvement. The temporary good impression was destroyed when Ciel continued speaking.
"I cannot have you getting killed off. It could be years before someone else can see me again."
The older teenager sighed. It had been too good to be true.
"Well the other members will not break in so we need to get hold of a key somehow. That means we are at a dead end then."
Something clicked in his mind as he looked at Ciel. He was a ghost who could go through walls.
"There is something you can entertain yourself with today. Find where the keys are stored. Someone has to have the key to that place."
The ghost boy nodded. "You do know I will not be able to steal it. You would have to do it."
"We will have to deal with that when the time comes."
Dinner with his parents was mainly a silent affair as usual with only the sound of cutlery scraping and breathing until after dinner and drinks and desserts.
"How was your first club meeting?" his mother enquired over her cheesecake. It was a Japanese style cheesecake as opposed to a British one as it was an actual cake rather than a sweet dessert containing cream.
"Not bad," he answered truthfully. He had got a lead on Ciel's case after all.
"You seem to be happier than when you first started there."
Sebastian added milk to his coffee before answering.
"I have only been at sixth form for a few days. It is too early to tell."
It was mainly Ciel's case that was helping him to adjust. The difficulty of acclimatising to talking to a ghost was much harder than settling in at sixth form.
"Who is in this club?" his father questioned, sounding very much like was sniffing out potential clients.
If Sebastian had to guess which member of the club had business connections, he would go for William. He was uptight and nick pickety enough. He listed the names of the members for his father.
"One of the people I am in talks with has a son in the year above you called William. Considering his surname is Spears that must be him."
He was right then. On a positive note perhaps he was not as bad at detective work as he had believed.
"Did you find the key?" Sebastian asked Ciel.
They were in the quiet area of the library again and Ciel was strangely silent for a change.
"I think I did. I don't think you can steal it by yourself."
"Where is it then?"
"The caretaker has it," Ciel answered briefly. "In a locked cupboard."
That made it difficult. He could not envision sneaking in and picking the lock. It was too risky.
"Who is the caretaker?"
"Tanaka. He appears to be harmless. He has an office and storeroom tacked onto the back of the English department. If I remember correctly he came here five years ago."
"Do you have any ideas how to get it?"
Ciel's reply was very surprising considering the circumstances.
"Tell the truth."
Sebastian arched an eyebrow. It was almost certain that Ciel had died on school premises and that it had been covered up by the school.
"That is very risky," he replied.
"I have a feeling he is not bad. We can test it. I have an idea."
Considering he had no viable ideas Sebastian listened to Ciel's idea. It depended a lot on Tanaka not being tied with the school board. It was likely he was not due to the fact he was a newer member of staff, but Sebastian didn't like to rely on that. He didn't want to get killed off.
Eventually Ciel talked him into it and off he went to find Tanaka. He knocked on the door of the office and entered when there was no reply. If the caretaker was out it could circumvent the need for Ciel's plan.
The office was small and very tidy. There was stacks of maintenance requests forms stacked neatly on the table and one wall was lined with filing cabinets on either side of another door. He couldn't see anyone behind the desk. He could smell green tea though.
"Mr. Tanaka?" he called out. "Tanaka-san?"
"Yes?"
A figure stepped out from the other room and as he approached Sebastian saw an old man with mussed grey hair and blue overalls. He matched Ciel's description and answered to Tanaka so therefore he must be the caretaker.
"I have a question-" Sebastian pretended to stumble and the 2010 yearbook fell out his pocket along the minutes of the meeting.
He allowed Tanaka to pick them up and examine them. After a long minute they were handed back to him.
"Are you a member of the mystery club?" he asked and Sebastian was able to tell he had a very pronounced English accent which sounded upper class which was strange for a caretaker in Japan.
"I am a member. I am a new student though so I don't know the school very well."
"What question do you have for me?"
"It's about the old school building."
Depending on Tanaka's answer Sebastian would either proceed with the conversation or go to Plan B which was to end the conversation and leave for safety.
"I cannot tell you much. I only started working here after it had been closed down. I have been waiting to hear that it will be demolished, but it has not happened yet."
That sounded like he was a suspicious as him.
"The son of a family friend was in Year 11 here and was investigating the old school building as part of the mystery club. Then he disappeared," he explained.
Tanaka's eyes flickered with recognition.
"You are not the first person to ask about him. Someone comes once every year and gets turned away."
