Chapter 41
Children of the Fog
Dark clouds dominated the sky. Pregnant and swollen, they appeared as though they would burst, but they held on, forming bloated clumps that floated lazily across. Shiho yawned, leaning into the leather seat. Shifting the laptop she had opened, she grimaced at the chirpy professor.
A day had passed since the incident. Following some phone calls and new developments, they were now on their way to Hakone. An idyllic town just a few hours away from Tokyo. It was well-known for its hot springs, and in the professor's case— "Onsen eggs!" he quipped excitedly, humming like a small child. "Eggs, specifically, cooked from the steaming vents of Owakudani...oh, I can't wait!"
"Owakudani? Black eggs?"
"It's a volcano valley formed 3000 years ago in Hakone. Apparently, eggs cooked in the steam turn black and possess mystical properties. They even said that eating more would prolong your life!"
"Sure," Shiho narrowed her eyes, catching the professor's bluff, "But mystical properties or not, would not prevent heart attacks for," she emphasized, "Overweight men."
"But…but…" the professor protested, "It is good for you."
"Hakase, we are not here to stuff ourselves silly. Besides," Shiho pointed to the vehicles up front leading the way. The first is a red Mazda and the second is a blue Mini Cooper. "We're here to investigate a case."
After several arguments, insistences, and quarrels, Eri Kisaki eventually relented. She was now accompanied by Inspectors Satou, Megure, Ran, Kogoro Mouri, and, surprisingly, Hondou Eisuke.
"The more, the merrier, isn't it?" he smiled when Ran suggested he head home. But he was adamant; his intention—made clear when he shifted closer to the black-haired beauty.
"Shinichi!" the professor whined at the shrunken detective for help.
Shinichi, however, remained deep in thought. Scanning through a document provided by the PSB from a Rei Furuya.
He had delivered the case file late the night before. And Shiho, still apprehensive of the man, had confined herself to the basement when he stayed over to discuss the case.
The files contained an important report. Personal records of individual citizens were listed meticulously in them. Rei Furuya, using his privilege as a PSB agent to assess that data. What he uncovered was a plethora of information pertaining to the children fostered by the Matsumoto family.
Reviewing the documents earlier, Shiho found nothing unusual. The Matsumoto family started humbly. Prompted by a divine calling —they were motivated to help those in need. Having started a decade ago, they have since welcomed 28 children into their abode. Most of the children were later adopted, and the remainder apparently moved out as soon as they turned 18.
"Though," Rei told Shinichi, with Shiho eavesdropping in the corner, "we aren't able to locate the children who were adopted."
A fact that was, unfortunately—common. After all, old identities were often lost when a child gets adopted. Address and name changes are not unusual. These factors combined made tracking difficult.
Whatever the case, they had nothing against the Matsumoto family. They ran a typical orphanage and had done nothing to warrant alarm or to justify a lawsuit. But the glaring fact still existed.
A threat was made against Eri Kisaki, and her assistant was assaulted in the incident. The Matsumoto family—the center of this controversy. Perhaps established on hypothetical claim, it was still worth checking out.
"There had been runaways," Shinichi started first thing in the morning.
"Runaways?" the professor asked as they ate breakfast.
"Yes, there were several gaps in the report...look," he explained. Numerous complaints have been made about the children disturbing their neighbors and creating a scene. Despite the severity of the incidents, the Matsumotos were somehow able to resolve the matter. They were able to gain sympathy from not only the locals but also the police by stating that the children had been brought up in unsavory circumstances.
"It's not unusual, though," the professor said, "runaways do not necessarily constitute child abuse. They were most probably..." he paused, rubbing his chin uncomfortably, "Troubled."
"Perhaps," Shinichi returns to contemplative thought as they bounded to their destination.
Driving along a mountain pass, a series of Japanese cypress and pine trees sway in the winds. Like a waterfall, a thick fog cascades down the side of the gorge. Eventually, the professor turns into a winding slope, making sharp turns through the dense mist. The visibility was poor.
Leaning against the cold glass windows, she stares blankly at the passing greenery.
The professor's statement though uncomfortable, held a degree of truth. According to a report issued by government agencies, at least 22 percent of foster children had experienced homelessness once in their lives. It was a sickening fact but not something to write home about.
It was something she understood. A bitter smile dances on her lips. Sometimes, running away was the only option.
"Sherry." his voice echoes in deep chambers. And Shiho finds herself back at that place. Smoke blends with blood, heavy and thick—a sickening stench. Renya's last words, a relentless plague— "It's in the system now. There's no turning back. Sherry, this is your legacy."
Bright floodlights catch the deranged smirk of a one-eyed monster. That man—
Had murdered her parents.
"Ai-kun," the professor interrupts, looking through the rearview mirror with raised brows.
"Yes?"
"I asked," he frowned, "if you wanted soba or Wakasagi for lunch?"
"Hakase, you just ate breakfast."
"Hey! Eri-san asked, not me," he motioned to his phone that was with Shinichi. The boy typing a reply.
"Wakasagi?"
"Pond smelt, a delicacy caught in lake Ashi, usually found in cold waters," Shinichi explained. "It would be nice to try something new, wouldn't it?"
"Wakasagi it is," the professor agreed before humming again. The mention of food puts him in a good mood. And though he shouldn't be overeating, his childlike happiness made Shiho smile.
Only to frown when she found Shinichi giving her a careful glance.
"What?"
"Are you o—?"
"More than fine," Shiho answered before he could finish. "It would be better if the corpse magnet stopped adding to our workload."
Snorting, he folded his arms. "It was just a little research, Shiho," he quipped, "and you offered to assist."
"On the condition that I got paid."
"Have you heard of charity?"
"I believe it should be extended only," she eyed him, "to the deserving."
"Am I not?"
He gave her a cheeky smirk, and she scowled, turning back to the research on her laptop. Open tabs display web pages about snakes, symbolism, and historical myths. The symbol in Eri Kisaki's office had not been found in any of the texts she examined.
"It should be something specific."
"A self-created symbol of some kind?" the professor asked.
"Probably, but we can't dispute that it means something," Shinichi replied.
"Maybe."
Shiho, looking at pictures of the vandalized symbol on the wall, returns to the web pages. Truthfully, it looked similar to a Jormungand. An Ouroboros symbol consists of a serpent biting its tail to create a circle. This image has been interpreted to represent the endless cycle of rebirth and destruction, a constant process. Although in this case, the symbol was not a circle but a lying-down "S." Narrow and wavy in nature, it looked like it was—flowing.
"Might represent a mythical creature of some kind."
"If this turns out to be another Isonade case," Shiho quipped, "I will feed this snake to that fish."
"An epic kaiju battle of sorts," Shinichi teases, "it'll be your favorite scenario."
"Sure, as epic as a flopping sunfish," she replied. Shinichi paused mid-sentence, "So, when will you audition for the role, Kudou?"
Pressing his lips into a tight line, he grumbled as the professor stopped them from quarreling.
Through the narrow pass, the road eventually thins out. Reaching a fork, the professor makes a left turn, following Satou-san's car. Having parked, they exited the vehicle into the small town of Hakone-Yumoto. Located near a train station, it was a pretty busy place. The station was used by both local residents and tourists to travel between Hakone's scenic destinations.
Thick fog rolling down the mountains engulfed the townscape, enveloping it in a thin veil of white. Creating an illusionary, transient atmosphere. An arid odor of rotten eggs wafted through the air, and though it wasn't pleasant, it gave the town its distinctive feature.
"Ah, there you are!"
Standing beneath a red-torii gate, the black-haired beauty waved at them. Her smile somewhat waned—she looked tired. The cause of her exhaustion...grumbling parents.
Mouri Kogoro was stamping his feet immaturely and arguing with an equally irascible Eri Kisaki over where they should dine. An everlasting argument that seemed to carry no end.
Unperturbed by their squabble, Eisuke took in the sights beside them. The boy snapped some photos of the narrow shotengai behind the gate with a digital camera.
"Where are the inspectors?" Shinichi asked, and they appeared. Satou and Megure-san, each holding an ice cream cone.
"Erm…" the professor practically drooled.
"A little too early for dessert, isn't it?" Shiho quipped, and the inspectors chuckled nervously.
"They were quite pushy," Satou-san gestures to the stores behind her. Despite the town's small size, it was bustling. Even in this dour weather, it was quite hectic. Numerous shopkeepers were waving at them with signs and loud hailers. It's a tourist trap or an endless shopping hellhole for those who can't resist.
"You old croon," Kogoro snapped, "we could be eating soba anywhere else. Why here, of all places? We should be eating the local delicacies and experiencing the town's culture!"
"And I told you, I'm not here to sightsee. I'm here for work!" Eri retorted. "Honestly, I could have done this alone. Why are you here!?"
"Because it's dangerous, and you, of all people, shouldn't be wandering alone after such an attack. Are you stupid?"
"Stupid?" Eri looked at him like a fly; she was ready to swat, "Perhaps I am, to even consider marriage with you!"
Kogoro gawked at her as she headed toward the town. "Mo…Okaa-san," Ran runs after her mother.
"The nerve of that woman!" Kogoro grumbled, only to be nudged by a sparkly-eyed Eisuke. Possibly lost in his own world, the boy had failed to read the situation. "Look at that! Isn't it fascinating?" he pointed to the fog kissing the side of the mountain, trickling down like a slow-flowing stream. Shiho got to admit it made for quite the sight.
Kogoro glared at the teenager, who was not deterred. Eventually, Eisuke moved into the shotengai, chasing after Ran. "What is that chibisuke doing here anyway!" Kogoro grumbled before following suit.
"Popcorn?" Shiho offered Shinichi, who was watching the scene unfold with amusement.
"I'd rather have lunch. I'm quite famished," Shinichi chuckled. The inspectors, too, were licking their ice cream.
"For once, I agree," Megure-san assessed the situation while nodding his head.
"Speaking of which," Shiho glanced to the side to see the professor sneaking a bite at a couple of black eggs. She seizes him by his shirt cuff.
Glancing at her with weariness, he stopped. "Shini...Shinichi," he stammered, trying to summon help. "Satou-san…Megure-san…"
He tried helplessly for the three, but they ignored him, walking ahead.
"Hakase," she crooned, hiding the menace underneath. "How about we look," he whined as she gave him a sweet smile, "At the salad menu?"
They settled on a soba restaurant, much to the chagrin of Korogo Mouri. The man, griping about the fact that they could have eaten the dish anywhere else, was now seated at a separate table overlooking the famous waterway. Haya River was a fast-flowing stream that stretched through the town of Hakone Yumoto. Sitting with a cigar, Kogoro watched as the frothy surf flowed through the town. Tobacco fumes rise from the tip towards the vents of the restaurant's ceiling.
Traditionally styled, it was more of a bar than a diner. And it was famous for its noodle dishes. Served happily by the store owner, they sat at wooden booth seats. A middle-aged local, he had rosy cheeks and a dimple-like smile. The 57-year-old man introduced himself as Takahashi Yuuto, who had lived in Hakone most of his life.
"Otou-san, stop sulking and join us!" Ran called out. The old man simply snorted as he dunked a beer he had ordered.
"That stubborn old fool!" she grumbled. Seeing her distress, Eisuke made a lame joke, distracting her, before wiping down her side of the table. With a sly smile, Eri Kisaki watched the procession while slurping noodles.
"Quite the gentlemen you have there, Ran," she eyed Eisuke with a teasing glint, "Tell me, Eisuke-kun, how long have you liked my daughter?"
Dropping the utensil he held, Eisuke spluttered, turning red almost immediately.
"Mo, Okaa-san!" Ran whined, and the woman grinned.
"Now all we need is a jealous competitor, and we have the makings of an afternoon soap drama," Shiho observed from the table opposite theirs.
"I'm about to make my own," the professor was rearranging the veggies on his plate distastefully.
"Can't help you there, Hakase," Shinichi chuckled. "You asked for it."
"I only had four eggs!"
"Ara," Shiho stared at him, "So when you bought a dozen eggs and had one left over, you ate only four?"
"I gave the rest to Megure-san!"
"I'm sorry, I don't want to be involved," the inspector replied.
"Eleven," Satou-san counted innocently with her fingers, "you ate eleven, Agase-hakase."
"Shinichiiii!" He groaned, voice booming across.
"Shinichi?" Eri heard his complaints. "Is Shinichi here?"
There was a silence, then the flustered excuses that left Eri with raised brows.
"Shichimi," Shinichi pipes in. "Hakase was asking for Shichimi chili flakes."
"...with his salad?"
"Oh no, he was going to order a bowl of udon, that's why," Satou-san chimed in, as Eri glanced at Ran and Eisuke, who made a point to avoid her gaze.
"Is that so?"
"So does that mean I get a bowl of hot udon?" the professor beamed.
"I give up," Shiho sighed.
"So?" Yuuto-san asked later as he placed the bowl of hot udon in front of the professor. "What brings you to this place? A family vacation? Sightseeing?"
The show owner's bright demur contrasted with his decor. The restaurant was dark, with only three naked bulbs illuminating it. They glowed a warm orange and, though provided a cozy atmosphere, did nothing to light the place up. Additionally, there were strange ornaments accumulating dust on oakwood shelves. Shiho barely recognized the grotesque cartoon outline of Gomera carved into his tables and walls. Yuuto-san must be a fan of the franchise.
"You can say that," Satou-san presents her badge. The man frowned.
"Is there a problem here?"
"Oh no, my apologies for alarming you," Satou-san stuffed her badge back into her pocket. "We are merely investigating an inquiry regarding the Matsumotos, so you need not be concerned."
"The Matsumoto family?"
"Do you know them?" Shinichi butts in, the boy noticing something they have not. The man beams. "Of course, they're the kindest people around. They have long provided assistance to the elderly and sick in this town and have always provided discounts to the locals when we purchase their vegetables. Sometimes they even give them out for free."
"They own a farm?"
"They have a farm, yes. A good place to raise children. Keeps them busy, you see."
"I realize this might sound strange, but has there been anything wrong with the Matsumoto family lately?" Eri cuts in.
The man frowned. "No, not that I know of."
"Really?"
"Why?"
"Nothing terrible," Megure flashed him a curt smile. "Just an internal inquiry."
Yuuto-san sighs suspiciously at them. "If you are referring to the various cases of runaways they had over the years…please be assured that the matter has already been addressed."
"Oh?" Eri raised a brow, intrigued by his abrupt admission.
"The town folk are aware of the orphanage and the children who come from broken families. It is not uncommon for them to wander into town, sometimes afraid, sometimes ranting. A few even went to the police. I can understand why it might paint the Matsumotos in a bad light, but there was nothing improper going on. Most of the children in the orphanage are happy and well-adjusted."
"And the police…thought nothing was wrong?" Inspector Satou asked.
"Isn't that a bit strange?"
"I agree. But several police officers visited the orphanage after the complaints. Though, when they investigated the compound, they found nothing suspicious. As a matter of fact, the runaways who made the report apologized. They were laughing and playing happily the last any of the locals saw them. Some were even walking hand-in-hand with their foster father." Yuuto-san grinned. "Shizuo-san is a good man."
The man was singing praises now. As if —describing a saint. Shizuo Matsumoto, to Yuuto and the town, was an angel who came from heaven. A benevolent and generous person, even going so far as to open an orphanage to assist troubled youth. It should be a good thing. There were not many out there willing to do the same. However, something about it seemed wrong—the man's blatant charitable intentions didn't sit well with her cynicism.
Peering down at her arms, she sees faint scarring caused by cigarette burns peeking through her sleeves. That's right. There was a reason why she could not eradicate this suspicion. After all—
Anyone can put on an act.
"He sounds too good to be true," Kogoro Mouri, who was chugging down another glass of beer, voiced Shiho's concerns. "Seems like you're talking about a deity. Does the man have no flaws, no negative sides?"
"Shizuo Matsumoto is a well-respected individual. He has performed countless deeds for the community without expecting anything in return. Although you may find it difficult to believe, people like that do exist," Yuuto replied without a hint of mirth.
Kogoro regarded the man before snorting. The jaded detective, like her, was still doubtful of the claims.
"Have you met any of the runaways?" Shinichi stares discerningly at the man.
"Yeah, I remember a girl and a boy coming to me a few years back."
"Were they in any trouble?"
"No, nothing. When I asked them what they were doing here, they replied that they were simply checking out the town. However, I could tell they were fosters of the Matsumotos."
"And you returned them?" Shiho muttered. Yuuto-san nodded.
"Why did they flee the orphanage?" Shinichi loses any childish tone he had expressed earlier.
"I'm not sure. They did not provide an answer."
The man, still donning that sunny smile, was painfully oblivious, and a strange ache formed in Shiho's chest.
"When the Matsumotos came to pick them up, did you notice anything odd?" Eri continued.
Yuuto-san chuckled. "No, Shizuo-san was extremely concerned, even inspecting them for injuries before hugging them. I recalled the children crying. They expressed regret and pledged never to repeat the act. Shizuo-san even treated them to ice cream after the incident."
"Hmm…" Shinichi contemplated the new information.
"Anyway, the Matsumoto family are wonderful people. There are many who would vouch for them."
"I'm sure," Inspector Megure muttered. "Could you direct us to Matsumoto's when we're done?"
"Sure," Yuuto-san said, "it'll be a long walk, though."
"He'd need it," Shiho said, pointing at the professor who was devouring the udon. Taking in deep gulps as if he hadn't eaten in days. They chuckled as the man stopped mid-way, like a deer caught in headlights, scowling at her insinuations.
"That's not very nice," he protested, and she shrugged before pausing. Her attention focused on a figure behind Yuuto-san. Nudging Shinichi, she gestures to it.
Studying the statue, they exchanged glances. It was displayed on a wooden shelf, partly obscured by a bottle of sake. "What is that?" she asked childishly. Yuuto-san turned to look at what she was pointing at. It was shaped like an "S" lying to the side. And though it was not enclosed in a red circle, it was similar—to the symbol splayed across the walls of Eri's office.
"This?" Yuuto-san picks up the statue, "It's a wood carving from a friend."
Having placed the statue over the counter, they now had a better view of it. Disturbing in appearance, with sharp fangs protruding from its gaping mouth. The figure had nine heads twisted together and joined at the neck. Green flecks of paint and scales cover its crooked, narrow body. "It's the Kuzuryu Dragon, little girl."
"Kuzuryu Dragon?" Shinichi asked.
"Our local myth," the man motions to the flowing river outside. "Are you familiar with Lake Ashi?"
"The crater lake? It was created by volcanic eruptions from Owakudani during 1170 CE," Shinichi remarked, and Yuuto leaned back, amazed.
"Must you show off?" Shiho teased.
"It's part of the perk of having a—"
"Big head?"
"I was going to say large brain," he quipped as she chuckled.
"Yes, Kuzuryu Dragon used to inhabit Lake Ashi, and fearing it, the locals called upon Mangan Shonin to exterminate it."
"Mangan Shonin?" Ran asked.
"He was a Buddhist monk," Yuuto-san continued, "who, impressed by the creature's strength, chained it to the bottom of the lake rather than killing it."
"Worst pest controller ever," Shiho muttered, and Shinichi choked on his noodles.
"Could you not?"
"They better not worship him," she spoke loudly, and Shinichi eyed her with disdain.
Yuuto-san laughed at her statement and laid the figure down.
"Unfortunately, that is exactly what the locals did. To appease Kuzuryu, they fed him with offerings, red rice, and such. Touched by their gifts, Kuzuryu then became a protector of the area."
"If the dragon could be appeased so easily, why were the villagers so afraid of it?" Shinichi mused, and Yuuto-san paused. Putting the figure back on the shelves, he shrugged.
"It's an old wives tale," he continued casually, "But back in the day," the restaurant grew colder, "Human sacrifices were made to it."
The old Tokaido Road was an ancient pass that connected the major cities of Japan. During the Edo period, it was considered a prominent socio-economic route. And here it remained, reminiscences of the stone path still evident. The pebbled pass was surrounded by Japanese Hinoki Cypress. Grand and tall branches reached toward the skies, creating a cacophony of green. An impenetrable fog encircled the trees, weaving through their rough bark. The mist condenses across the ancient pass, forming a thin sheen of moisture. Walking carefully along the stones covered in moss and lichen, Shinichi tries not to slip.
Having received general directions from Yuuto-san himself, they abandoned their vehicles at the Shotengai, unable to traverse the old path with them. While the Matsumoto family was well-liked in town, they did not live within the community. Choosing to live in a secluded area instead.
"Sounds normal," Shiho said skeptically. Shinichi had to agree.
"About halfway down the Tokaido Road," Yuuto instructed, "near Lake Ashi."
The man provided them with a map that Kogoro held in his hands. As he scrutinized the paper, the man furrowed his brows with a very put-upon frown. "Are you sure he provided us with the correct directions?" Kogoro glanced to the side. Having reached a fork, the thickening fog was hindering navigation.
"It's because you've turned it upside down," Eri chided, grabbing the map out of his grasp. As usual, they became embroiled in a fight, and the professor and inspectors attempted to separate them...again. With the fiasco happening, Shinichi noticed Eisuke pulling a troubled Ran aside. The bespectacled boy distracted her with some of the mosses growing in the cracks of the pebbled path. Fascinated, he launched into a lecture, eyes shining with enthusiasm. Observing this, his childhood friend relaxed, a gentle smile forming on her lips.
Somewhere during his excitement, the boy tripped and Ran caught him—arms across his midriff. They were close, their noses touching, and a rush of red flooded their cheeks.
Ran released the boy. "Are you ok, Eisuke-kun?" she stammered, and Eisuke nodded, standing with a goofy smile.
Shinichi watched the procession with a scowl. Though he was grateful for the presence of the bespectacled teenager, the boy helping to distract Ran from her parents' quarrel...it was a little unnerving to see the open display of affection.
They were unconsciously flirting now, and when the toyboy started teasing Eisuke with a pet name—Shinichi couldn't help but develop goosebumps.
"Clumsy bunny?" he muttered, horrified, "What in the world…"
And when Ran picked leaves from Eisuke's hair with playfulness, he had enough. Keeping a rapid pace, he passed them.
"Why," Shiho teased, "Too much for you?"
Eyeing her with disdain, he pulled out the earpiece she had stuffed into her ears. There was music blasting through it. Shiho likely using it as a shield to block out secondhand embarrassment that came from witnessing budding romance.
"I'll say the same for you!"
"Whatever you say," she intoned, "Clumsy bunny."
Shivering in distaste, he spluttered at her words. "Never," he emphasized, "Call me that again."
"Why?"
Shinichi ignored her, trudging on ahead, grumbling as she smirked.
The road eventually thins out, and cypress trees grow and twist, surrounding the walls of what Shinichi could only describe as an entrance to a palace.
A structure also called a Mon. It was an eight-legged gate that served as the entrance to the Matsumoto's estate. Typical of old Edo-style architecture is its undulating roof. Deep red was painted across the black wooden beam, fixed with gold oval symbols. The beams formed an intricate criss-cross pattern that held up the sloping roof. Green tiles slanted down were affixed to the structure. Plastered walls covered in vines were adjacent to the Mon and encircled the compound.
Unlike most Mon, where the doors are usually open, they were tightly shut here. Fashioned from lacquered wood, they were painted black and adorned with intricate gold paintings of flowers, gods, and snakes.
"This is it," Eri commented.
At the sight of the grand entrance, Kogoro whistled.
"You never said the Matsumotos were loaded," he replied as Eri shot him a withering glance.
"Well..." Satou-san approached the heavy-set doors and pushed against the electronic doorbell that seemed out of place in the traditional architecture. A deep, static-filled voice emerged minutes later.
"This is Shizuo Matsumoto. How may I help you?"
"Matsumoto-san?" Megure-san took over. "We are here on behalf of a case filed against you. We would appreciate it if you could answer some queries we have."
"A case?"
"Yes, a complaint of sorts," Eri interjected. Following a brief pause, the doors creaked open. Greeting them was a large man with a short chin beard. Friendly green eyes looked at them with curiosity through thick eyebrows. His most noticeable features are his bushy sideburns and a horseshoe-shaped mustache. To be honest, he resembled an Asian Santa Claus.
"Does this have anything to do with the lawsuit?"
"Yes, I am the lawyer in charge. Eri Kisaki."
Pushing open the door, the man stepped out. Radiating an amicable aura, he smiled, despite the subject of the conversation.
"I have been informed of the lawsuit against my family. Though, I thought it was a joke, as it was filed by a disgruntled employee. As far as I was concerned, it was just a prank."
It was a reasonable statement. A lawsuit—filed by a fired employee. A simple revenge plot?
Shinichi frowned. Somehow, it seemed—too convenient.
"A prank?" Kogoro asked.
"Yes, Itsuki Endo, my ex-employee, had been stealing government funds for the foster children we care for. I had no choice but to release him," Shizuo said.
"A disgruntled employee?" Eri commented.
"Yes, I'm afraid so." Shizuo gave them all another glance of curiosity.
"But...There must be more to it than that, right?"
"Unfortunately," Inspector Satou-san elaborated, "You see, Eri Kisaki's office had been raided, and her assistant was assaulted."
"And for some strange reason," Kogoro frowned as he regarded the man. Being naturally skeptical, he must have also sensed something was amiss. "Your case file was vandalized and marked by the culprit."
"Oh?"
"What are you hiding?" Kogoro jumped straight to the point, forgoing any pleasantries.
"Otou-san!" Ran chided, holding her old man back. Appearing to consider the information, Shizuo placed a hand over his chin, smoothing out his beard.
"You suspect the culprit may be connected to our lawsuit?" he concluded.
"Yes, so would you mind if we inspected your home? Of course, you are free to decline," Inspector Megure replied.
"No, no, I am fine," Shizuo smiled. Greeting them with hospitality instead of hostility. "Besides, walking around in this fog would be dangerous. It is common for visitors to get lost in this area."
"Lost?"
"There are many sections to the Tokaido Roads, and fog can sometimes make navigation difficult. It would be unwise to wander in these parts now, especially when," he gestured to Shiho and Shinichi, "You have children about."
Looking at them, his expression was etched with familiar confusion.
"What are children doing in a police investigation?" he asked.
Shinichi suppresses a groan.
"I'd like to know, too," Kogoro stated disdainfully. "I don't remember inviting the professor or the children."
"I don't remember inviting you either," Eri retorted. As the man is about to start another argument with his ex-wife, Shinichi interrupts, pulling on the professor's shirt. "It's because Hakase wanted to experience the hot springs!" he exclaimed, making another high-pitched whine. Brows twitched in response to Shiho's mocking chuckle and the flabbergasted expressions on the Inspectors, Ran, and Eisuke's faces. "I was also looking forward to trying the hot springs! Hakase promised to take us if we behaved well."
Flustered by his sudden lie, the professor laughed nervously. Patting Shinichi's head vigorously. "Yes, yes, you know how children are, and since we heard you'd be heading to Hakone, we decided to tag along," he replied, ad-libbing naturally.
"Ah, I see," Shizuo welcomes them inside. "I hope you get to experience the hot springs later, little boy."
"Thank you, Oji-san," Shinichi chimed as they proceeded forward.
The fog was thicker than before— forming a cesspool of dank dense mist. "Be careful," Shizuo warned. A torch held in his hand, its orange beam cutting through the air like a knife, illuminating the scene in front. Although it helped a little, Shinichi was still unable to see ahead.
They were eventually greeted by a gentle breeze. For a brief moment, the slight draft cleared the fog. Shinichi finds himself standing in the middle of a vast field. Vegetables were planted in the fields. Growing on the square-shaped plot, cabbages, carrots, potatoes, and the like are divided into sections. This must be the farm Yuuto-san had mentioned. Walking further along, Shinichi noticed a river beside the fields. The water body was most probably—Lake Ashi.
There was something about the vast fields combined with the blanket of fog that made Shinichi feel as if he had entered the realm of gods.
Yes.
The scene felt like a scene straight from an ancient folktale.
It was broken, however, by the odor of—
Smoke. Black, wispy and gray, it rises from a pile ahead. A young man was building a fire over the fields. Petrichor and wet earth contrasted with the arid stench of smoking leaves clumped together. Seeing Shizuo, he halted the activity.
"Tou-san, you're back..." he trailed off, "Who are they?"
"Guest, Asahi," Shizuo introduced. "This is Inspector Satou and Megure-san," he gestured towards them, "along with Kogoro Mouri-san and his daughter Ran Mouri. And this is Hondou Eisuke, Professor Agase, Edogawa Conan-kun, and Haibara Ai-chan."
He then turned to Eri, who extended a hand. "I am Eri Kisaki," she introduced herself, "the lawyer in charge of your lawsuit."
At her mention, Asahi became agitated, coming forward quite aggressively. Which prompted Kogoro-Ojisan to step in front of the woman.
"My father has been nothing but kind to my siblings and me. That lawsuit is a sham. Shizuo-san was the only one willing to adopt me!"
He was understandably upset, his cheeks were flushed red, and he was glaring at them. "I do not know what Tou-san did to deserve this, but this is a complete waste of time."
Jabbing a finger in Eri's direction, he spat insults. "So you can take your case and shove it up your a—"
"Asahi!" Shizuo chided. "That's not the way to treat our guests. Please apologize."
"But—"
"Asahi, please."
The young man hesitates before relenting. "I'm sorry," he grumbled, "but it's true. My father has nothing to do with the lawsuit. Child abuse, you've got to be joking!"
"You need not worry about that," Satou-san assured him. "We are only here to make a quick assessment. If nothing is amiss, we will leave."
"The fact that you're here is already ridiculous."
"Asahi, there is no harm," Shizuo takes his son by the shoulder, squeezing it. "Come now, finish the chores, and we can enjoy Koharu's snacks."
Asahi gives them another glance before sighing. "Fine."
The man grumbled as he walked back to the bonfire. With a shake of his head, Shizuo continued forward. "Please excuse my son," he said, "the lawsuit has been hard on him. He loves this place dearly and well...as you can see, fiercely protective of it."
"Do you adopt all the children you foster?" Eisuke eyed Asahi, who was feeding the fire with more leaves.
"No, Asahi and Koharu are the exceptions," he smiles wryly. "It is rare for children to be adopted after a certain age. They were teenagers when they came to me. Koharu was twelve, and Asahi was thirteen."
"Koharu?"
"My daughter..." he signaled ahead, shining his torchlight through the fog. Beams hitting white plastered walls. A Japanese mansion appears in the distance. Traditional in style, it was just as impressive as the Mon at the front. Cypress wood, ladened cracked plastered walls. The top was covered with a triangular-thatch roof. Shizuo slides open the main door. A traditional lattice frame made with rice paper.
A warm foyer greeted them. Shinichi removes his shoes, looking up at a paper lantern swinging slightly. The house smelled of wood. Natural cypress logs provide the structure's floors and beams with a pleasant aroma of nature. In the hallways, a couple of pieces of European-style furniture stood by the walls, contrasting with the Japanese-style architecture.
They passed the hallway and a set of stairs leading to the second floor. Shizuo leads them past a door and into a kitchen. Through the bamboo-framed windows of the kitchen, Shinichi observes another group of low-raised buildings located on the other side of the open-air corridor enclosed by the courtyard's zen garden. Fog descends from the skies, eventually obscuring them from view.
"A nice place," the professor remarked. And Shizuo beams proudly. "Yes, it is my family's home. 400 years of history."
"Wow, that's long," Ran exclaimed, and Shizuo chuckled.
"If you like, I could give you a tour around later, but for now—"
Next to the kitchen was a small enclave. A dining room, Shinichi suspects. It was warmer here and surrounded by the merry atmosphere of playing children. Five children resided here. Shinichi noticed two young girls, twins, probably no older than five, running in circles around a young woman. A boy, probably six, sitting by the dining table, was drawing. And by the sides stood a boy and a girl, probably ten or eleven, quietly regarding the scene with...Shinichi frowned, sharing a look with Shiho. Fear.
All eyes turned to them as they entered. The two girls, who were running about, immediately hid behind the woman. The boy drawing by the table stopped. And the older boy and girl huddled closer to each other.
"Koharu," Shizuo greets, "if you don't mind, could you serve the cookies you made the other day? Oh, and a cup of tea?"
Koharu, a pretty woman in her early twenties, raised an eyebrow. She had shoulder-length black hair and a set of pretty gray eyes. Petite and slender in nature, she pointed a deft finger toward them. "And who are these "guests," Otou-san?"
Shizuo introduced them again, and Koharu sighed. "Right, I'll bring them some snacks, but only after," she pointed to the children, "I get them settled."
"Of course," Shizuo beamed, "Thank you, Koharu."
She snorted before waving them away. Through another sliding door, Shizuo leads them down an open corridor past the garden yard.
"Are those your foster children?" Eri asked.
"Yes! They are adorable, aren't they? Mei and Riku Noguchi are twins. Generally, they are timid with strangers, but they can be quite the little devils once they get to know you." His eyes sparkled. The affection in them was different from what was written in Eri's reports. "The boy drawing by the table is Yuuma Ueno. He has great talent. A few months ago, he'd even received an award at school. If you are interested, I can show you some of his pieces displayed in the living room."
"Well, the older kids, Shota Shimada and Sara Imai, well," he continued with a wry smile, "they've been abused in their previous homes...so they don't talk much. But they are good kids."
Sliding open another door, he led them into the living room. A square-shaped pit was nestled in the middle and surrounded it were cushions placed neatly about. The floors were covered with tatami mats which gave an earthy aroma. Hanging an iron kettle above the pit, Shizuo beckons them in.
"Make yourselves at home. I'll help Koharu with the snacks," he said before exiting the room.
"This is really, really nice!" Ran exclaimed as soon as he left, settling down on the tatami mat and smoothing her hands over it.
"Right!" Eisuke beamed, equally excited.
"I must admit, it's pretty cozy," Eri remarked.
"Moreover, Shizuo-san seems to be a decent enough individual," Satou-san noted as the woman wandered around the room, inspecting ancient sculptures arranged on shelves along plastered walls. Kogoro snorted.
"Then what was the purpose of filing the lawsuit?" he asked, "Something is off."
"Suppose it was a petty prank," the professor remarked. "Perhaps Itsuki Endo was just a disgruntled employee?"
Still skeptical, Kogoro-Ojison grunted in displeasure.
And Shinichi couldn't help but agree.
As much as he wanted this to be nothing more than a run-of-a-mill case. He felt it again. The tingling sensation in his gut. Though he was more likely to disagree with Kogoro-ojisan, something told him there was more to this than meets the eye.
He didn't require much probing. Shiho nudges him. The shrunken scientist pointed at the beams running across the ceiling. Eyes lingering on what was carved into wooden structures. Initially, the dim lighting made it difficult for him to see, but when he adjusted his glasses, he spotted them—engraved in the wood.
Wait a minute.
They were—the symbols painted, with pig's blood, in Eri's office.
"What do you make of it, Sherlock?" Shiho asked in jest.
"A rudimentary problem, I say."
"Why do I sense more work coming my way?"
"All in the mind, Watson," he quipped. As the puzzle—locks into place. "It's all in the mind."
She scowled at her nickname, and he chuckled. Before shifting his attention to the giant family portrait pinned on the wall. Among the smiling images were Shizuo, Asahi, and Koharu Matsumoto. Two more were present, one was an older woman, and the other was a young man with a missing…left ear.
"Oh," Shizuo replied later as he returned with a tray of snacks and tea. The man answering questions that the inspectors and Eri threw at him. The identities of the woman and man were revealed in a sorrowful tone. "That's my wife and son."
"Where are they?"
"They passed away. Miyu had cancer, and well, Ren…" Shizuo sighed, sipping from his tea, "A motorcycle accident a few months back."
"Ren…Matsumoto?" Eri muttered, Shinichi noticing the lawyer studying the portrait intently. Her lips were pressed together. She was about to say something but stopped herself. "My condolences," she offered instead, and the man smiled.
"Thank you."
As the adults continued to converse.
Shinichi couldn't help but notice the young woman peering in. The circumstance—intriguing.
Koharu Matsumoto was watching the processions with triumph. She looked happy—satisfied that the inspectors were there. Almost too…happy.
"Haibara," he informed Shiho, not wanting to miss the chance, "I'm heading to the washroom."
Before she could stop him, he was already moving out of the door into the open corridor. Seeing Koharu ahead, he catches up to her.
"Onee-chan!" he shrieked in his best child-like voice.
"Yes?" she was perplexed. And he made it a point to jump around as if he was in urgent need of the white throne.
"Where are the toilets? I really need to go," he whined.
"Oh!" Koharu exclaimed. Just as she was about to point out the direction, she paused. Squatting down, Koharu beams at Shinichi. Her smile—fake. Something simmers within her blue eyes. Something buried.
She was probably—
"Onee-chan will lead you there, follow me," she said sweetly.
"Ok!"
And she moves through the corridors, Shinichi not far behind. Walking along the square-shaped courtyard between adjacent buildings. Shinichi prepared his tranquilizer watch just in case. They were at the opposite end of the square in no time, moving down a long corridor, the fog rolling in, creating a dense, hazy atmosphere. The living room at the other end is getting further away, almost out of sight. Eventually, Koharu stops in front of a sliding door.
"It's in here."
A rather odd phrasing.
Shinichi approached her cautiously. The woman still bearing that accursed smile. He did not like it one bit. Every part of him told him to turn around, head back, and notify the inspectors of his suspicions, but—
"Curiosity always," his father's words came back to him as he took a step closer, "Killed the cat."
Shinichi slides the lattice doors open, unable to suppress his hunger for answers. He was first greeted by the smell of antiseptic, followed by the sound of beeping medical machines. On the bed, a frail woman was breathing through an oxygen mask, her eyes closed, in a white-washed room.
Withering away, she lay surrounded by bouquets of freshly cut red flowers. Petals grow at the ends of thin, wiry stalks. They were unique to Japan. Spider Lilies. Flowers that—symbolize hell. Crimson petals contrast with white walls. She emerged from a sea of fictitious blood.
She was supposed to be—"Dead."
Shinichi readies his watch, whipping around, only to find a cloth pressed tight against his mouth. His nose begins to sting, and he feels faint as the overwhelming stench greets him. His senses were invaded by the sickening nausea of formaldehyde.
He couldn't hold her back, growing weaker by the passing minute. Holding the handkerchief tight over his lips and nose, Koharu grinned.
"I'm sorry, boy," the woman whispered, "but this must be done."
Blacking out, the last he remembered was dull, impenetrable eyes.
He was taking too long. Again, the uncomfortable feeling of apprehension returned. It nagged at her, pricking at her neck. Having offered to help Koharu-san with the dirty dishes, Shiho follows Ran and the woman back to the kitchen. While walking through the foggy open-air corridor, Shiho smelt it—a distinct odor emanating from Koharu Matsumoto. It was familiar yet distant. She couldn't quite recall what it was.
Sliding open the doors to the kitchen, Shiho was once again greeted by the sight of children. Two young girls, Shizuo, introduced as Mei and Riku Noguchi, immediately surrounded Koharu while dancing around her. There was a genuine joy in their expressions, and they seemed comfortable.
Not mistreated…or abused.
"You two," Koharu struggled to keep the tray balanced. Despite this, she smiled.
"Where do we put this, Koharu-san?" Ran asked.
"Oh, that, you can put it by the sink, and if you can—" she gestures toward the girls, "could I trouble you for a few minutes while I wash the dishes?"
"Of course." The raven-haired beauty is quick to offer assistance.
Placing the tray down, Shiho was immediately bombarded by the bright faces of the girl twins and a boy of approximately six years of age. She recalled that he was—"I'm Yuuma-kun!" he introduced. "What's yours?"
He was talking excitedly, and the twins were grabbing onto her. Before long, she was forced to sit by the dining table. She sent Ran a look, asking for assistance—who simply chuckled at her plight.
"Betrayer," she muttered and had no choice but to deal with the rambunctious bunch.
"Calm down. She'll tell you if you give her space," Ran tried later. The hyperactive goblins were not listening, and in the short time, Shiho was prodded, poked, and pulled in every direction possible. The children, talkative in nature, ask her about her origin, her purpose here, her name, her hobbies, and her family. She answered with half-truths, unable to keep up, while the twins assaulted her hair with rubber bands.
"Doesn't she look nice!" Riku asked. Mei shoved a kid-sized mirror in her face and, to Shiho's absolute disdain, found her fringe pinned up in a ponytail, tied stiffly like an upright tree. Ran, observing this, descended into hysterics as she folded her arms.
"You could have stopped them."
"Sorry, sorry," Ran wipes the tears from her eyes, "You just looked so—cute."
The twins were about to start again when—
"You'll scare her off if you keep going," the older boy said. From the corner, he emerged with two glasses of water, setting them down. "Koharu-san asked me to give it to you."
Shiho looks at him and the girl hiding behind him. If she wasn't mistaken, they were Shota Shimada and Sara Imai. Something seemed off about them. Shota was smiling, but Shiho noticed that his brown eyes possessed a dull, almost bleak appearance. A shiver went down her spine. The expression—so similar she felt as if she were looking in a mirror.
"But we're bored!" Mei whined, and Shota produced some papers and crayons, setting them on the table.
"We can draw then."
Yuuma clapped his hands together excitedly while the girls shrieked in delight. And they gathered by the table; Shota and Sara assisted the twins as Shiho observes. There was nothing out of the ordinary, and given the heartfelt way Ran was looking at them—the scene before them painted a rather comforting atmosphere. Of Children burdened by circumstances of their past, living together as siblings. It was a touching scene, but why—
Did it feel wrong?
"Oh?" Ran studies the drawing Mei was scribbling. The girl scratched an unsettling-looking figure on the paper with a green crayon. Then, taking another piece of paper, she draws another oblong shape with scaly edges.
"What is that?"
"You don't know?" Mei was surprised by their question.
"No," Shiho replied.
The drawing was not something children could draw with their imaginations. The details were startling and specific. It looked like a snake but also—a river. Shiho frowned. "It's kind of weird, isn't it?" she stated bluntly.
Mei pouted, folding her arms and throwing a tantrum. "It isn't weird. It's the Uwabami!"
"Uwabami?"
"It's the giant snake god," Sara said for the first time. Her voice was hoarse as if she hadn't used it for a while. The children stared at her in shock, falling into silence. "Sara spoke," Riku whispered to Mei, who nodded furiously.
Shiho notices Shota holding onto the girl protectively. When the girl started shaking, Ran got up, wanting to comfort her, but the boy stopped her. "It's the usual, don't touch her."
Ran hesitates before turning to Shiho. She, too, realized something was terribly wrong.
"A giant snake god," Shiho asked tentatively.
"Yes," Yuuma replied, unperturbed by the interruption. "Asahi says that it lives in the river behind our home, and sometimes when it is hungry…"
He smirked, turning to the twins who shrieked. "It'll eat little children who stray too close!"
"A myth?" Shiho asked, and Shota shook his head. "I've seen it."
The twins gasped in horror, running to Ran for comfort.
"It's just a warning," Ran assured them, "Asahi-san probably doesn't want you playing too close to the river's edge."
"And she is right," said a voice at the entrance. "The last time someone wandered too close to the edge, they got swept away."
When the lattice door opens, a smiling young man is revealed. While carrying a sack of potatoes, he dropped it as the twins and Yuuma ran toward him, squealing in delight. Asahi opened his arms and embraced them. "Asahi! Can you play now?"
"Of course," he smiles, "we've got to clean you guys up first."
He faces both Ran and Shiho. "So, if you don't mind, I will be taking the children."
"Oh, we don't mind, not at all," Ran answered, a little flustered.
"Where are you taking them," it was Koharu, however, who stopped him. Having finished washing her dishes, she was wiping her hands on a towel.
"To bathe," he replied quickly, eyes shining with a steely glint before it vanished. "Would you be able to help me?"
Her posture stiffened. It was subtle, but Shiho caught it.
"Fine," Koharu conceded to his request.
It took a while to settle the children. Asahi and Koharu eventually carrying Yuuma and the twins up the stairs.
A hand grabs Shiho as she watches the procession.
"The Uwabami."
The boy standing with Sara was studying her carefully.
The icy tones in his eyes mellowed out into a familiar—act.
One she had performed as a child.
"It isn't a myth," he started. The boy continued his statement from before.
"You've seen it?"
"Two times."
"Shota-kun, Sara-chan, are you coming!" Asahi shouted for them. As soon as they heard the man's voice, they flinched.
"What do you mean by that?" Ran whispered.
"I'm not repeating myself!" Asahi boomed. Not able to stall him any longer, they bowed apologetically and climbed the stairs.
Two times.
The exchange didn't escape Shiho, and she regarded the information with a newfound horror.
The number had been specific.
And—that smell. She knows what it is.
"Ai-chan? Is everything alright?"
The urgency rang through, and she grabs Ran. If she was right—
"Where is Shinichi?"
Has anyone seen the trailer for Detective Conan Movie 26 :D. As a Haibara Ai fan, I strongly recommend it :DDDD
Again, I hope you've enjoyed this chapter. This case...has a lot of characters, and I hope I don't disappoint XD. Again, I would like to thank you all for your reviews and feedback. Have a good week ahead.