A/N: Hello, everybody, how has- wait, what's this? XOs is posting a day early, rather than a week late? Yes, I'm actually not being a scumbag writer for once! The main reason is because I'm visiting my sister this weekend, and I honestly don't think I'd have time to post over the weekend, which would mean the next chapter wouldn't be released until Monday night. So, instead, it made much more sense to get a chapter out a little earlier! I hope it doesn't seem too rushed. It's getting to the stage in the story where the plot begins to excite me too much, and I might get carried away. I need to keep telling myself to reign it in and stay focused, otherwise I could be dropping too many or too little hints!

Actually, now that I think about it, the last chapter was posted Monday, so you've all had quite the busy week from me, haven't you?

Oh, I did something interesting today (for once)! I study Ancient History, and one of our modules is 'The Roman Empire in the Barbarian World', where we study the period from roughly AD 400-AD 800, looking into the split of the Roman Empire into the Western Empire and the Byzantine Empire, but also into the Germanic tribes such as the Goths and the Vandals, but also the Frankish Kingdoms and the Gauls. All very interesting. The thing I wanted to say, though, was that today I touched a coin dating back to around AD 570, created for the Byzantine Emperor Justin II's reign! That's a coin that's nearly 1,500 years old!

That's it for me. Without further ado, the next chapter of Investigasians!

Chapter 23

Snowflakes had started to fall once again. The salted city roads saw them melt as soon as they touched the concrete, but Yao doubted that would last for long. If the snow fell diligently enough, they would soon be faced with just as much as they'd seen the day before. He was still cold and tired from his early start, but if Elizabeta was to insist on a busy day, a busy day he had ahead of him. He was moderately glad Yong Soo had managed to scrape his way into other people's business. As much as he enjoyed the company of rich people, he found social differences were frequently pointed out when with people such as Roderich and Francis. The pair of them lacked all perception of mundane life. Although Yong Soo had an awful habit of sometimes acting insensitively, his familiarity with Yao made him more cautious about what he said and did. People such as his client and his community were unafraid to show to others they had wealth, and considerable amounts of it as well. This day was probably going to be visitations of places that were substantially costly; places Yao wouldn't go to on a regular basis.

How fruitful this trip would be to Yao he wasn't sure. He was aware that, in just two days, it would've been two weeks since Niklas was murdered. He had a lot of evidence, but he could tell the search was dwindling. Come Monday, he would have to admit defeat and accept the murder had become a cold case. He would still offer his services, but he doubted Roderich would be too pleased to see how long the case could take. Besides, once the second week mark passed, it was very unlikely the killer would be found. Something he'd called a clumsy killing had turned out to be rather effective. He dearly hoped something would arise, but he doubted it would be today, or tomorrow. Monday loomed ever nearer. His conscience bore down upon him. He had wanted so desperately to finish the case, especially with the sum of money Roderich had promised.

Roderich and Elizabeta were waiting for them at the city centre. Both of them wore coats the looked tailored and designer, with Roderich's slim fitting black that hung to his hips, and Elizabeta's fluffy white coat. The couple glanced over as they neared, and Elizabeta smiled. Yao couldn't help but note she was definitely shorter than Kiku, but not by much. He shivered to think the murderer may be the one standing beside his client, letting herself be known as his fiancée. It would break up their marriage. A call from Lei would probably answer his questions, and Mei's field work gave him the excuse to do just this.

"Oh, Yao, it's good that we're seeing more of you," Elizabeta firmly grasped his arms, before moving on to gently pat Yong Soo's hands. "I feel like things are finally looking up."

She had no idea how close they were to the truth. Yao smiled thinly in response, trying to appear cheerful, but instead questioning why she would go so far. Surely she wasn't the murderer? And yet, so much evidence piled against her...

"It's weird, but…" she paused and smiled, having returned to Roderich's side. "Christmas is just under ten days away. It's really come by very quickly, wouldn't you agree?"

It was almost as if she were mocking Yao. If she were indeed the culprit, then those same words could very well mean 'You've lost'.

"I'm really looking forwards to it," Yong Soo beamed.

"Me, too," Roderich nodded, then glanced at Yao. "I feel the New Year shall be a fresh start for me; am I right, Detective?"

Or perhaps the Young Master, with his cool aloofness, had murdered his father? He was slender and relatively tall- taller than Yao. Was Kasam really correct about the individual's height on the footage? Did Roderich's "fresh start" actually mean he had escaped the case scot-free?

"Absolutely," Yao forced his feelings aside. "With talent such as yours, I think you'll do very well, Mr Edelstein."

"Thank you," Roderich nodded, and sounded earnest. Yao wanted to be proud of fixing relations with his client, but still... those disturbing thoughts remained. Elizabeta was more likely out of the two of them, he presently believed.

"I forgot to mention, Francis, but we're meeting Germaine at the ice skating rink later," Elizabeta took her fiancé's hand.

"Oh?" Francis frowned.

"Yeah, she's come down to see the city before she goes off to France," Elizabeta beamed. "I thought it'd be wonderful if all of us spent the day together, and it's only better that Yao and Yong Soo could come along."

"OK," the Frenchman replied.

The first part of the morning was spent looking around the shops of the city. Yao had seen them on an almost day to day basis, but for everyone else, this was a new sight. Yong Soo hung back with Yao, respecting that this was merely a shopping trip of items he was unlikely to be able to afford. The other three were interested in their journey around the city. A lot of the shops had switched to a Christmas theme by now; red, green and white had become common colours for Yao. Many shops were still closed from the heavy snow, and he could only assume more would start to close once the snow thickened once again. Darkened windows contrasted greatly to those who had their lights bright and golden, warm and welcoming.

Yao always found relief whenever they dipped into shops. The weather had become brutally cold without him properly noticing. Each store, whatever it sold, offered a warm welcoming of heaters. He couldn't believe he was wandering around the city centre with some of the most renowned people. His career seemed to be taking him gradually to greater places. He had strongly believed the Mayor would be the only prominent figure to ask anything of him, since the pair of them had attended school together. Although Mayor Jones had been a few years younger than him, they had spoken frequently and the pair had gotten on well. It seemed, after many years of university and life, Mayor Jones had recalled Yao's name and chosen him over many others to look into his own case.

It also seemed that Mayor Jones thought of him favourably to have suggested him to other people. Yao hadn't even solved the case, yet the Mayor was boasting about his services. He was relieved that the Mayor was such a loud mouth; the more cases of the rich, the more money; but it always surprised him how public prominent figures made their lives. They told one another everything. Yao loved his privacy.

They stopped for lunch. Lei still hadn't called, and Yao desperately hoped he wouldn't contact him whilst eating. Elizabeta had chosen a fine restaurant. Yao had seen it many times, but had never had the courage or money to enter. All sorts of delicious foods were served, but Yao had to opt for the rich steak they had on offer. It was beautiful cooked in some kind of rich, red wine sauce. The taste was luxury to his tongue. He savoured each mouthful to the very end. Yao was also never one to pass down dessert. He chose the amazing chocolate fudge cake on offer. It was served with pure vanilla ice cream and had raspberry sauce dribbled lightly across it. He couldn't get enough of the amazing food, but the meal came to an eventual end.

This was accompanied by more strolling and talking. Yao kept the subject away from the case; he didn't even dare ask heights, for he was sure that the figure must've been closer to Elizabeta or maybe Kiku's height.

The moment came when the group reached the ice skating ring. Their food had gone down by now. It was around three in the afternoon. Standing by the entrance of the ice skating ring was a petite young woman with blonde hair that was tied in a regal plait, long and spiralling down to her waist. Her eyes were a clear blue, a set of glasses balanced on her nose. She wore a pretty maroon, waist length coat and was adorned with sparkling jewellery. A delicate smile appeared on her face as the group neared, and she walked forwards, extending gloved hands forwards and embracing Francis.

"Oh, Francis, isn't it wonderful that I managed to come down here before my return to France?" she beamed, leaning away and smiling up at him.

"Absolutely," he returned the favourable expression, then glanced over his shoulder at Yao with a wide smile. "But you must meet Detective Wang. He's truly a very interesting character."

"Oh?" she glanced at Yao, the smile still on her face.

"This is Yao Wang," Francis gestured towards him. "He's currently working on Niklas' case."

"Ah, you have not been mentioned before," she smiled at Yao.

"I only met him yesterday," Francis replied. "Yao, this is Germaine; she's my wife."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Bonnefoy," Yao nodded towards her.

"And who are you?" she glanced at Yong Soo.

"This is my assistant," Yao jumped in quickly, before the young man could make a fool of himself in front of such a dignified and beautiful young woman. "His name is Yong Soo, and he often helps me with my investigations."

"We should go ice skating," Roderich checked his watch before glancing between the Bonnefoy couple. "We may as well make the best of the time we have."

The group moved gradually into the building, which was chilled, despite the outside temperatures. Tickets were all paid for, and each member selected a pair of skates appropriate to their foot size.

"I've never ice skated before," Yong Soo whispered to Yao, anxiety in his eyes.

"If you slip over, keep your hands to yourself," Yao instructed, pulling his boots on.

"What do you mean, Aniki?" his sidekick asked as the pair of them awkwardly trotted towards the ice ring, the blades on their shoes clacking against the floor and their hands curled around the railings provided for support.

"These skates are sharp, aru," Yao was the first to reach the ice. "Skin and muscle won't stop their course."

He left it there, because he spiralled away into the mass of skaters, and also because he was a horrible person. Each time he saw Yong, the young man was either grasping the side rails with an ashen expression on his face, or braving free style skating, his hands hugging his sides or in his pockets. It was certainly an amusing sight.

Comparing Yong to Elizabeta was even more amusing. She could've been a professional figure skater with the way she breezed across the ring. Every now and then, she'd meet Roderich and the pair would spin away from one another. Yao assumed they probably had plenty of time to take weekend trips to the ice ring and practice. But Miss Hédeváry was a very talented skater. She was graceful and fast, and her open, free expression implied she enjoyed the sport greatly. He had the fortune of coming across Roderich around the edge of the ring. He must've stopped at some point to lean to the side and watch his fiancée enjoy herself.

"She's incredible, aru," Yao said.

"She did a lot of ballet when she was younger, which helps," Roderich noted. "But also the swimming and kickboxing have kept her flexible over the years.

"Swimming?" Yao glanced at him, although his mind was more on the second, more violent sport.

"Ja, she's in a team," Roderich nodded. "They do all sorts of things; laps, relays, races, different strokes, synchronised routines: the likes, really. She's very good. Kickboxing is just a hobby."

"I suppose all those spins require a lot of strength," Yao glanced at Elizabeta, who had caught Yong Soo and was spiralling him around, much to the young man's clumsy embarrassment, and possibly fear.

"Absolutely," Roderich continued, oblivious to Yao's questions. "Don't tell anyone, but she easily beats me in an arm wrestle."

Yao found he could actually believe that. But his interest remained on Elizabeta's physical strength. Ballet? Swimming? Kickboxing? All three of those asked for considerable strength, but so did another activity: bludgeoning Niklas Edelstein across the head with an unidentified object.

Right on cue, he suddenly received a phone call. Rummaging through his pocket, with Roderich glancing at him in mild interest, he checked the screen to see Lei's name flashing upon the screen.

"Sorry, I need to take this, aru," Yao excused himself, idly sliding away and escaping the ring.

He answered the phone once he reached a quiet spot, away from other people.

"What do you need?" Lei was always one for being straightforward. "You wanted me to- where are you? I hear voices."

"Ice ring, long story," Yao replied. "And, yes, I did want to talk with you, aru. It's about Elizabeta… I want you to check through her personal details; bank withdrawals, phone calls, anything you can find. I want to see if she's been getting someone else to do the dirty work for her, or if this is something she decided to take into her own hands."

"Want me to check Roderich's details as well?" Lei asked hesitantly.

"I'd be careful," Yao warned. "I suspect his statements will be doubly secured after what happened to his father. I wouldn't risk it."

"Very well, but I'll include the home phone in my searches," Lei said.

"Please don't get arrested," Yao begged. "I physically don't have the money to bail you out, aru- and I need you if I want to finish this for my paycheck."

"I'll be fine," Lei disconnected the call, and Yao glanced around the ice ring.

"Who you talking to?" he jumped and turned to see Francis had skated nearby, leaning across the rink, watching him with a knowing smile and dark, cornflower blue eyes.

Yao lowered the phone back into his pocket. "A friend of mine; you haven't met him, aru."

"Oh," there was almost disappointment in Francis' eyes, but that was swiftly replaced with amusement once again. "You should make the most of the ring; do you like ice skating?"

"I haven't really been that much," Yao admitted. "Needless to say, it's not boring or anything, aru. I'm just not that great at it."

"How about I help you?" Francis offered. "I could teach you a few things."

"Don't worry about me," Yao leant against the wall and pulled one of the skates from his feet. "That call was actually mine and Yong's cue to get working on the case."

"There's been a change?" Francis probed.

Anything Yao said to Francis, he suspected would be reported straight back to Roderich. His reluctance to tell him anything must've been obvious, because Francis' eyes darkened slightly, and he leant away.

"Confidential case; I understand," he said. "I suppose you need Yong Soo, then?"

Yao nodded and, by some miracle, met Yong Soo's eye from across the ring. He motioned for his sidekick to hurry up and get a move on, whilst wrestling with the other boot.

"It was a nice day," Francis said. "Perhaps we ought to do something similar at some point?"

Yao breathed in deeply. "This case has kept me rather preoccupied, Francis, but we'll see, aru."

"Of course, of course," the Frenchman held up his hands with an easy-going smile once again.

Yong Soo clumsily bumped into the rail and crawled out of the ice ring. "I was not made for ice, Aniki."

"I can tell," Yao grabbed the boy's elbow as he stumbled and wrenched off the dratted shoes. "Francis, tell Roderich and Elizabeta we had to leave, aru."

"Yes, of course," Francis watched them both gather their shoes. "Remember, the offer to spend the summer in France with me is still completely open."

"Thanks, aru," Yao started walking away, lifting his hand in recognition, before dipping back out into the lobby.

"I swear his wife is with him today, da ze," Yong Soo glanced over his shoulder.

"Hmm?" Yao frowned.

"Hmm, nothing, Aniki," Yong Soo scratched his head awkwardly. "Inviting you to his house in France? He only met you yesterday, da ze?"

"What did you just say, aru?" Yao pulled a face and looked at him.

"Well, I'm not sure how to say this," Yong Soo laughed nervously. "Hmm. I think Mr Bonnefoy has been coming on to you. Da ze."

"I wasn't talking about that," Yao scowled. "And don't be stupid, aru. Francis is attracted to me- he just wants information about the case, not my number, aru. You young people jump to such bizarre conclusions. Everyone knows the French are amorous to everyone they meet, aru. Besides, with a wife like Germaine, I don't think any man could find his eyes wandering..."

"What were you talking about, then, Aniki – da ze?" Yong Soo asked.

"That."

"What is 'that'? Da ze."

"That weird little noise you keep making at the end of your sentences, aru," he glowered. "You know what I'm talking about."

"Oh. My verbal tic, da ze?" Yong Soo suddenly looked proud of himself.

"Verbal… what?" Yao narrowed his eyes. "Since when have you had a verbal tic, aru? Your speech pattern has been perfectly fine for the time I've known you until today."

"Well, I figured that, since you have your 'aru', I need to have a verbal tic of my own, just like Aniki – da ze," Yong Soo beamed. "So, I thought of one and decided to try it out once we were away from everyone else; da ze."

"You can't just say 'da ze' at the end of every sentence; that's not a verbal tic, aru," Yao sighed. "I don't intentionally say 'aru', it just happens frequently on the end of my sentences – but not all the time, aru. You can't invent a verbal tic, Yong, it's just there."

"But it sounds cool…" his assistant suddenly looked disappointed.

Yao sighed. "If you really want a verbal tic, don't pepper it at the end of everything you say, aru. Just do it every now and then."

"Like, if I want to make an assertion and want people to listen to me?" the young man beamed.

"I guess so?" Yao frowned uncomfortably. "Whatever. Do what you want, but if your mother starts complaining about your speech impediment, don't point the finger to me, because I didn't make you start saying 'da ze'. Why do you want to copy me, anyway?"

"Because I think Aniki's super cool," Yong seemed downcast.

"That's so weird, aru…" Yao grimaced.

"But seriously, I think Mr Bonnefoy was coming on to you," Yong Soo added.

"I highly doubt it, but I can see where you'd get the impression from," Yao said. "I actually think he just wants to have an ear in on the case, so has been super sucking up to me."

"Oh, of course!" Yong Soo's brows furrowed. "Only Aniki would be perceptive enough to recognise deceit of some kind."

"Let's just get going to Kiku's," Yao sighed. "I think we'll have to wait a little for Lei's response."

A/N: That's it from me until next week! I really hope you enjoyed this chapter, because I had a lot of fun writing it! I know... we haven't seemed to have gotten closer to the case... but trust me when I say all will be revealed! Until next time!

Germaine Bonnefoy: Monaco