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To my readers: Please read and review! I'd like to hear your thoughts (or predictions) about this story, and I appreciate any feedback you give (except flames).

Disclaimer: I do not own Detective School Q. Amagi Seimaru, Sato Fumiya, and Animax do.

Before Akiyama-san could speak, she suddenly froze, her face twisted in an expression of fear. A voice in the back of head! She began to scream and convulse, the police officers all rushing to assist her.

Recognizing the sign of someone becoming hypnotized, Ryuu looked around. When his eyes landed on Toyoda-san's, his instincts were warning him that there was something going on with the accountant.

They turned out to be correct when Toyoda-san turned and ran out of the now unguarded door. Quickly, he called, "Kyuu, come with me! Kazuma, Kinta, make sure she doesn't escape, and look after Megu."

Having also seen Toyoda-san's hasty exit, Kyuu nodded and joined Ryuu in his pursuit. Behind them, Kazuma was looking for an area with cell reception so that he could call for an ambulance. As he watched Kazuma leave, Kinta turned to his father. "I know you want to go and help them, but they can handle it. Right now, Megu and Akiyama-san need medical attention in case their injuries are more serious than they look, and we'll need you to explain the situation to the paramedics."

Toyama-san hesitated. "But-"

"Tou-san, please…trust me."

The combination of the address, as well as the plea, was enough to get Toyama Osamu-san's agreement. "…Very well."

And not a moment later, at her position at the doorway, Megu stumbled and collapsed, to the worry of the Toyamas and the recently returned Kazuma.

Kyuu and Ryuu were following Toyoda-san, although they were losing sight of him, since he had a head start.

"Huff… huff… for an accountant, he's a fast runner," said Kyuu, as he tried to regulate his breathing. "Guess that makes sense, since he isn't really one."

However, Ryuu didn't seem to hear his words. His next word came out in a quick rush. "Ne, Kyuu. There are two different ways Toyoda-san could have gone. Do you think we should split up?"

Kyuu frowned. He didn't want to leave either of them to fend off a member of Pluto without knowing how strong he was, but letting him go wasn't an option-he could alert the rest of Pluto to where their missing agents were. "Yeah, I guess it would make sense-at least one of us is bound to come across him. I'll go left, you take the right?"

Ryuu agreed, pausing before he took off. "Be careful, Kyuu."

Kyuu nodded, and said, "Same for you." With that, they left in opposite directions.

The leader of Class Q crept around quietly, wielding an umbrella that he had found and using it to push open unlocked doors. Toyoda-san's priority would be escape, and he wouldn't take time to lock doors behind him. At least, that was what Kyuu hoped, as he tentatively pushed open the next door.

Ryuu had found a cane that someone had left behind. Hopefully, the person using it had a spare…

Shaking his head, he berated himself for going off track at a time like this. He was hanging out with his classmates too much, he thought as an exasperated, but fond, smile touched his lips.

Getting back to his task, he tapped the cane against the door lightly, and listened for any reactions that the sound caused. There should have been no one in the offices-the people involved in the case, with the exception of Toyoda-san, were in the meeting room, and the building was a crime scene-so any reaction caused by the light knock would logically be Toyoda-san's. He was almost done, and was about to check the last few doors when-

BANG! BANG!

At the sound, Ryuu's heart raced. Kyuu! He began running, hoping that he wasn't too late.

At the moment, Kyuu was dodging bullets, literally. When his umbrella touched one of the doors in his section of the hallway, he stepped in to the dark room to ensure that no one was hiding inside. And of course, as soon as he stepped in, he was peppered with bullets, and had to resort to using his now open umbrella as a shield. The material was surprisingly sturdy, even deflecting some of the projectiles.

In between Toyoda-san's succession of bullets produced by his handgun, he peeked over his makeshift shield to get a look at his assailant. Sure enough, it was Toyoda-san. The strange thing, though, was that he was grinning evilly. Even if Kyuu hadn't been the one to question him, he didn't seem the type to smile. And come to think of it, that smile was disturbingly familiar. But on whom had he seen it?

However, before he could continue with that train of thought, he noticed that the Pluto agent was inching towards the door. Kyuu's eyes flashed. He couldn't let him escape. In a very fast and admittedly reckless move, Kyuu miraculously dodged the bullets and was three feet away from him. Before Toyoda-san could react, Kyuu leapt at him, sending both males to the ground. The impact knocked the gun out of the Pluto member's hands, and they both wrestled for control. Kyuu's fingers had just touched the gun, when it was grabbed by Toyoda-san.

Despite the feeling of dread that crept trough Kyuu, his eyes widened as he finally remembered why he had recognized his attacker's smile.

"Odin?" he wheezes.

"Ara, ara. Looks like my cover is blown. Oh well, it doesn't matter-Pluto was already displeased with your escape from my clutches, and has been looking for me ever since. If I'm going to die, I'll just take you down with me."

Aiming at Kyuu's heart, Odin began to squeeze the trigger. However, Kyuu had snapped out of shock, and reached for the gun.

BANG! BANG!

Ryuu raced down the hallway. The shot came from… this room!

Slamming the door open, his heart skipped a beat as he saw two figures on the floor. One was Toyoda-san, and the other was...Kyuu!

Forcing himself to stay professional, he checked for Toyoda-san's pulse. After a minute, he felt nothing. Not knowing what to make of the Pluto agent's death, he hurried to Kyuu. To his relief, he managed to find a pulse. However, it was weakening, and Ryuu looked for an injury. Finding the bullet hole in his best friend's abdomen, he forced himself to remain calm as he balled up his jacket and held it tightly against the wound, using his other hand to let Kazuma know where they were.

One more chapter to go, and I'll be wrapping this story up!