The Memory of Murder

By E.M. Megs

Chapter 10 - Death

It was silent in the house when he entered it, something that wasn't normal, even when the servants were sent away for the day. His mother was always up to something and by this time of day his sister would surely be getting into trouble - hopefully not with his dresser - practicing to be the perfect housewife for her fiance. He scowled. "Mother! I'm home!"

There was no answer. Yes it was a big house, but surely someone…?

He shrugged and took his shoes off. Perhaps she was sleeping. She tended to do that during the day a lot more lately for reasons that neither of his parents would disclose to him. He climbed the staircase at a sluggish pace, glad to be home after a tiring day at school.

He passed the door to his parents room without even thinking about waking her to tell her he was home. He found Fuyumi in his bedroom, messing with the clothes in his dresser - the exact thing he had hoped wouldn't happen. He bit back a groan. "Nee-san," he said coolly, "What are you doing?"

"Kyoya-kun!" she exclaimed rising from her place on the floor and running over to give him a hug. He glared at her and she stopped in her tracks, a pout on her face. "What? You're 12 now so you're too old for hugs?"

"No. You're deliberately making a mess of my bedroom. That is why I'm punishing you without a hug." Her pout vanished and her glare appeared. "You know that I don't like you digging in my drawers."

"I need practice!" she defended hotly, "You know I do!"

He snorted. "Practice cannot fix what one never had, Nee-san."

"Kyoya! That's so mean!"

He chuckled and avoided her as she swatted at him with the back of her hand. When she had finally calmed down he murmured, "I'd really just prefer if you let the maids handle it." She rolled her eyes with a huff but otherwise didn't do anything. "Where's Okaa-san?"

"Sleeping last I checked."

"Ah." So it was as he had thought. "Why is she sleeping so much lately?"

"I don't know," Fuyumi murmured, a frown lighting her face, "I overheard Otou-san say something about her not being able to sleep very well lately." She nodded her head a bit as she spoke then added as an afterthought, "And that would probably also explain why he's been in such a sour mood. If Mother's not sleeping then Father probably isn't either." Kyoya frowned and decided it was best not to bother her then. "Do you need help with your homework?"

He snorted humorously. "Fuyumi, when's the last time I needed help with my homework?"

She shot a dirty look at him on her way out of his room. "I'll be in the library if you need me."

"Don't mess it up too much or Father will have your head!" he called after her. He just barely heard her replying 'humpf.'

It was when he was in the middle of his science homework that he heard the gunshot. He jumped, startled, then got up and ran into the hall. Fuyumi came running down from the library minutes later. "Did you hear that?" she asked, concerned. A security personal appeared at the far end of the main hall, hurrying toward them.

"Yes," he replied, feeling all the blood rush from his face, "It sounded like…"

"It came from Mother's room?" Fuyumi finished for him, her face equally pale. He nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

"I'm home!" a call came from the main entry way. Akito's voice. He was finally home from his after school activities. Knowing his family's schedule, Yuiichi would be home within 10 minutes and his father about half an hour after that if he was running a little ahead of schedule - which was quite often.

Fuyumi and Kyoya left Akito to the security and ran to their mother's room, despite the fact that the guard that had been coming toward them was now yelling at them not to move anywhere for their own safety. Fuyumi stopped as soon as she opened the door, staring into the dimly lit bedroom with a look torn between shock and horror. Kyoya, annoyed with her lack of response, pushed her aside and stepped in.

"Kyoya-" Fuyumi tried to grab for his shoulder as he lurched forward.

"Mother?" He didn't want to believe what the blood on the carpet was telling him. The gun that laid on the floor just a foot away from where he fell to his knees, unable to tear his eyes away from Mayumi's face. There was a hole in her head. A bloody hole that had torn the flesh of the side of her head. Her eyes were wide open and staring at nothing. He gripped her face in his hand and swallowed. "Mother?" he called again, helplessly.

"Kyoya," Fuyumi said, her voice wavering due to what he was sure were tears. "I-I don't th-think she can hear-hear you."

"Yes she can," he said slowly, though his mouth was dry, "Of course she can. She's just…" He trailed off. His mother had played a lot of tricks on him and his siblings over the years, but she'd never played dead before.

He felt something wet on his face with his hand before he even realized he was crying.

Akito had arrived seconds after. He bent his head and let himself openly sob. Yuiichi just 2 minutes after that. Both were equally shocked to find Mayumi Ohtori dead in her bedroom.

His father had come last, an hour early - something that never ever happened.

Kyoya never would forget the look on his father's face at seeing his wife dead on the floor.

The memory flashed through his mind as he pulled the small folded slip of paper off his and Haruhi's bed. The same circular black circle holding the folds shut. With shaking hands he pulled it apart and glanced over the words.

Turn yourself in or we'll kill your precious fiance, Fujioka Haruhi.

-K

He sat down heavily, still holding the note and put his head in his hands.

Haruhi. They were going to kill Haruhi.

Unless he protected her.

~o~

A/N: This entire chapter I was alternating listening to This Is Gallifrey and Doomsday from the Doctor Who soundtracks. Just a fun little fact. Both of them set the mood at different places in this. I like it.

YES! ACTUALLY MANAGED TO PASS 1000 WORDS FOR THIS CHAPTER! This makes me feel slightly accomplished even though the point was for this one to have shorter ones…

Kudos to: Give A Kiss and Say Goodbye.

You guys will have to step up your reviewer game if you want to motivate me to write more chapters. I KNOW there are more of you out there! I don't care if it's the simplest little thing, leave a review please. It brightens my day to know that people actually enjoy what I'm putting out there.