Disclaimer::::
I do not own Harry Potter or Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro characters. Only my OC Character (s).
I don't make any profit from any of my stories on this website.
Rated M for future sexual content and language
"Characters Speaking"
Characters Thinking
/Author Comments/
~~~Chapter Fifteen~~~
~~~Previous~~~
"My nose! It's broken! It hurts!" David cries as he falls to the floor.
Neuro walks towards him, no doubt eating his mystery. David collapses on the floor after Neuro takes a step back. He crouches near David's body. "The first step of understanding a culture is to follow the culture." David falls to the floor face-first. Neuro lifts his head via his hair with soybeans in the other. "You should have a taste of what you call a 'lowlife country'." He places the soybeans on his face and tongue.
"It smells! It tastes like shit! It stinks!" David curses as he tries to wipe the soybeans away.
The police finally arrive and take David away. "It seems like he messed up on the meaning of understanding other cultures." Yako comments.
"The feeling of when you're together with lowlifes..." Neuro places his elbow on Yako's head. "I have a perfect understanding of that."
"I guess..." Yako agrees before wandering off towards the hot springs.
The next day, we head back home in the same seats as on the way to the inn. Once again, only Yako and Godai are talking.
"A rare chance to go on a vacation, only if we could've stayed a few more days," Yako says happily.
"Anyways, why didn't I get my own room?!" Godai demands.
"Because we gotta cut costs!" Yako admits sheepishly.
"Why is it like that?! Hey!" Godai shouts, annoyed.
"Due to this car, we've been losing a lot of money." Yako points out.
"But why do I have to sacrifice?!" Godai complains.
I let out a soft chuckle due to their argument before looking out my window.
~~~Present~~~
~~~3rd POV~~~
Fog covers the area as a car drives through with a radio on. "At the moment, Kishin-ko Lake is experiencing a lot of fog. Please drive carefully. Next, please listen to this season's…"
The man in the car leans forward as he looks out his front window. In the sky, a shadow of a large creature appears, causing the man to scream as he swerves his car. The car flips over before it explodes, the man still inside.
A van that was behind the car came to a stop, and an older man abruptly got out. The man looks at the sky, and a gasp leaves his mouth. In the sky, it looks to be a shadow of a dinosaur. The creature's eyes flash red, causing the man to scream.
~~~Yuuki's POV~~~
I'm still wearing my kimono. We are not home just yet. We are still driving back from the hot springs.
Godai looks at Yako in disbelief. "How much have you eaten since then? You're going to eat all of the gifts like this!"
"It's ok; these are the ones I bought for eating. I already sent the gift back by mail. Do you want some?" Yako offers.
"No way! Just looking at it makes me sick." Godai denies.
"Don't say that I know you really want to try some." Yako teases.
"I said no!" Godai shouts.
Neuro is lying down, his head resting on my lap. I run my hand through his hair, making him more peaceful. He slowly opens his eyes as Godai slows down the car.
"What is it?" Godai queries.
"An accident?" Yako questions.
Godai stops the car. Neuro sits up before we all leave the car. An older man is talking to a police officer, sounding panicked. "It's true! A giant dragon appeared in the fog! Then the driver turned the wheel hard, and the car flipped! Then the dragon looked at me."
We stop behind the yellow tape. "What is this guy talking about? Dragons don't really exist." Godai points out.
Yako looks up at Neuro. "Don't tell me, Neuro, let one of his toys or some weird creature out again."
Neuro squeezes Yako's cheeks together with one hand. "What did you say about me?"
"Neuro." I scold softly.
An old man walks on the other side of Yako, stopping in front of the yellow tape. "It's the Dragon God. This must be his wrath."
He is wearing a pale long-sleeved top, brown vest, pink pants, grey socks, a light blue scarf, and black getas.
Neuro lets Yako go. She rubs her left cheek as she gazes at the old man. "What is that?" Godai queries.
"A God of Dragons, who settled here a long time ago. It's all because they created something in that lake. That's why the Dragon God is angry." The man states.
The young police officer walks toward us. "Hey, jii-san. Didn't I tell you that you can't come here? I'm sorry, please don't pay attention to him. The jii-san is a bit messed up."
"I'm not messed up." He states, head turned to the right.
"What's this thing about something created in the lake?" Neuro questions.
"Aah, you must be talking about the dinosaur museum. They just opened recently. Are you here to sightsee?" The police officer questions.
"Yea, I suppose." Yako agrees.
"Yeah." I agree softly.
"Then you should go there; I heard it's an amazing museum." The police officer comments.
The jii-san leans forward. "Amazing, what? It will be avenged. Very soon, it will get avenged." He turns around and walks off.
A smirk appears on Neuro's face. "Interesting. Even though it's weak, I smell the presence of a mystery."
~~~3rd POV~~~
Two men are in an isolated area near the water when one of them turns around the looks at the other. "Let's stop this. Someone has died already. It's not the time to build up the town." He walks over to the other man, wearing a blue coat with a creature on the back. "Shin-chan, let's go to the police station." He shakes him. "To turn ourselves in, okay?"
The other man lifts his head and opens his eyes. "No, this is unforgivable. Even if I forgive it, the Kishi will not."
The man removes his hands from the other man's shoulders and backs away, head shaking as his face pales. "The Kishi isn't real; it doesn't exist!" He walks around the man. "I quit." He walks towards the exit. "I'll turn myself in. I will tell them everything."
The other man has his head lowered. "Is that so? I understand." His fish clenches around the pipe in his hand. He slowly turns around the looks behind him as the fog slowly covers his figure, blocking him from view. In the fog, there is a loud banging sound.
~~~Yuuki's POV~~~
~~~At the Museum~~~
The statue out the front is of a green creature with a bucktooth. "Th...This is the Dragon God?" Yako queries.
"It has a very plain design," Godai admits.
Yako looks at the wooden sign. "'I am the Kishi of Kishin Lake-ki. Welcome to Kishin Lake-ki.'"
"So, it's like Loch Ness Nessie?" Godai questions.
"The name of it is straightforward, making it sound crisp and clean." Neuro points out.
Godai looks at the large grey building. "Is that the dinosaur museum?"
"It looks that way. Should we have a look?" I comment as we all look at the building.
We head through the automatic door. "Wow! Is that the Kishi? Cool!" Yako exclaims, looking at the set of bones.
"It's a different structure from the Kishi." I point out.
"It's not the Kishi; it's just a skeleton of a Plesiosaurus." Godai corrects Yako.
Yako looks at the skeleton in awe. "Such creatures really existed! That means that just one could still be around, the Kishi."
"That's not possible." Godai denies.
I let out a chuckle. "You never know. It might be."
"Hey, Yako," Neuro calls out to her. He holds up a fossil of a woodlouse when Yako looks. "One of your comrades."
"Oh, really?" Yako says dryly.
"Wow! It's really cute. One-san, I want this one. And this. This will make a great present for Senpai." A male voice exclaims cheerfully. "Wow! There are too many; my eyes can't keep up."
We walk to see Ishigaki crouching on the floor, one arm filled with boxes and a figurine in his other hand. "Ishigaki-san."
He abruptly stands up, surprised. "Why are you guys here?"
"We were coming back from our office vacation," Yako admits.
"An office vacation, eh? I'm envious of you, detective." Ishigaki says with a pout.
"Ishigaki-san, why are you here?" Yako questions.
"I have my day off today, so I came to have fun." He says cheerfully.
Yako sweat-drops. "Having fun by yourself in a place like this..."
"Well, he looks like he is having fun, so it's fine." I point out with a small chuckle.
Ishigaki holds out the figurine. "I am a big fan of Kishi! Look, isn't it cute? The really laid-back feeling of it. Ah, I'm confused about what to buy for Sasazuka-senpai. Which do you think is better? Kishi-kun pendant, Kishi-kun ramen. Oh, a Kishi-kun necktie would so fit him."
"I don't think any of those are suitable," Yako states, looking to the side before her eyes widen. "Whoa! Kishi shaped Manju. It looks tasty!" She takes a piece. Stars and sparkles appear in her eyes and around her face. "It's delicious!"
"How much do you have to eat before you feel satisfied?" Godai asks in disbelief.
"Yako is always eating," I comment with a smile.
Yako takes another piece as a male voice speaks up. "Welcome to our Museum. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves." The man has short brown hair and eyes and has a bucktooth. He is wearing a white shirt with a red tie, beige trousers with a brown belt, black shoes, and a kimono-style jacket with a green rim.
"Who are you?" Godai demands.
The man bows his head slightly. "Oh, pardon me. My name is Kirihara; I am both the head of the Museum and the town. Please enjoy yourselves today in our town and the dinosaur museum." He looks at Yako. "Ooh! This face. This eating style. Could you be the 'piggish' detective?"
Yako looks up, mouth full. "Yes?"
Kirihara takes us to the elevator and presses the button at the side before looking at Yako. "I never could've guessed that Katsuragi Yako-sensei would come to our Museum. I'm honoured!"
Neuro places his hands on her shoulders. "Yeah, Sensei said that she really wants to see the Kishi!"
"You came to the right place! There's everything you need to know about Kishi in here. Please advertise for us! Just joking." He laughs awkwardly.
The elevator pings, and the door opens. One by one, we step inside. "Excuse me, what is the Dragon God?" Neuro queries.
"You sure are well informed. That was Kishi's name before. The Kishi now is known by a lot of people." He takes out a Kishi model. "The Kishi model was designed by me."
"Wow, I so want it!" Ishigaki exclaims.
"From now on, the town will be known as the Home of Kishi and will get more and more famous." He pulls the model, extending the string. He releases it, and it goes back into its original position as the Kishi's fins flap. The elevator stops, and the door opens. "We're here. This is the best part of this Museum, the aquarium."
Ishigaki rushes out of the elevator. "Amazing!" Even Yako looks around in awe.
"How is it? It's like we're walking under the sea. If we're lucky, we might be able to see the Kishi. Just joking." He comments, laughing awkwardly once more.
"That kind of thing is not even possible," Godai states.
Ishigaki runs across the room towards the glass. He takes out his phone. "When Kishi comes, I won't miss the chance!" He takes a picture. He goes to take another one but ends up lowering it instead. "What...is that?"
Half a body floats into view. The legs and feet are missing. Yako lets out a scream along with Ishigaki. "I-It's torn in half!" Godai comments, speechless.
~~~Outside at the Crime Scene~~~
Ishigaki goes outside to look at the body. We follow after him at a slower pace. Ishigaki lifts the blue sheet, hand over his mouth. "This is really bad. Judging by the wound, it doesn't seem like it was caused by something sharp. It's like...being ripped in half." He lowers the sheet.
"I see, as expected from a crime scene detective-san." The police officer from earlier praises.
"Tha-that's right." Ishigaki agrees hesitantly.
The other officer stands up and looks at the blood. "Was it ripped apart up there?"
The police officer stands up. "We haven't found the weapon yet!"
"What about the bottom half?" The officer questions.
"It was discovered further back in the lake; the divers are recovering it now." The police officer adds.
Ishigaki stands up and taps his head with his finger. "The head looks like it was hit hard. The death was probably caused by that."
The police officer writes in his notebook while the other one looks down at the body. "That means the victim was ripped in half after being beaten to death and before being thrown into the lake."
"But who did it?" Neuro queries as we stand next to the body. "It doesn't seem like something a human could do."
"Well, not a normal one. A weapon must have been used." I point out softly.
"Who are you, people?" The older officer questions.
"I told you guys..." Ishigaki trails off.
Neuro places his hands on Yako's shoulders. "I am the assistant of the female high school detective- Katsuragi Yako-sensei. This is Sensei's private driver." He then points at me. "This is Sensei's Ane."
"Like hell I am!" Godai denies it loudly.
"Hello." I greet softly.
"Female high school detective?" The older officer repeats.
"Eeh, then you're that glutton detective." The young officer exclaims.
"Sensei is interested in this case." Neuro comments.
"Ehh, yea..." Yako reluctantly agrees.
Neuro looks up at the bloodstain. "How was the victim ripped in two? It's a really attractive mystery. Right? Sensei." His eyes glow as he looks at Yako.
~~~Inside the Aquarium~~~
We returned to the aquarium, where we had to wait. Godai sits on the other green bench while I sit leaning on Neuro, Yako sitting on the other side.
"Um, before the search ends, no one is allowed to leave," Ishigaki states.
"Has the victim been identified already?" Neuro queries.
Ishigaki takes out his notebook. "Yeah, a hardcore model fan who lives nearby, Mizoguchi Tamotsu, 32 years old. The Museum's Kishi model and skeleton replicas were all made by him."
Kirihara looks at the skeleton. "Mizoguchi was my childhood friend. He helped out a lot in building this Museum. I requested him to come and look at the models today. I never thought...something like this would happen. Sensei, please! Please catch the culprit!"
"No problem! You can count on me." Ishigaki exclaims. "I will surely arrest the culprit."
"He's not talking to you," Godai states.
Ishigaki holds out his arms. "I've always wanted to try solving something by myself. Every time, because Sasazuka-senpai is always there, I never had a chance to prove myself. Let me show you how I will beautifully solve this case."
"Where did that baseless confidence come from?" Godai questions as Yako lets out a laugh.
"Having such confidence is a good thing," I chuckle.
Ishigaki paces back and forth. "An hour ago, before we arrived here, someone saw the victim in this area. That means...The victim was killed and split in half during that hour. Which means..." Ishigaki trails off.
"Which means?" Yako queries.
"Except for the victim, people who were in this building during the murder: The manager, Kirihara-san, and the staff who worked here as well. And us, and two more visitors. Which means," Ishigaki continues.
"Which means?" I question.
Ishigaki does the same action that Yako does. "The culprit is...someone in here!"
Godai stands up. "No shit, we've known that since the beginning."
Yako laughs as Neuro moves his arms before entwining his fingers. "But, if the murderer cut up the corpse on the roof, he should be covered in blood. No one here looks like that."
"That's... true..." Ishigaki curls his finger around his chin. "No sign of blood or signs of changed clothes. How did the murderer cut up the body in such a short time?"
"It might have been Kishi," Kirihara states, causing us all to look at him. "If you assume it was Kishi, everything makes sense. The Kishi who appeared in the lake ripped Mizoguchi in half."
"How is that even possible?" Godai demands.
I narrow my eyes. So that is what he is up to, huh?
"Exactly!" Ishigaki agrees. "Kishi wouldn't do something like that."
"Not that!" Godai denies.
"Then tell me who did it and how they did it." Kirihara queries.
"That..." Ishigaki trails off.
"It really exists...Kishi..." He comments with a smirk.
~~~At the Crime Scene~~~
Yako, Godai, and Ishigaki lean against the fence while I stand beside Neuro as he crouches down near the fence on the other side. I tune out Yako's conversation as my eyes glow green, picking up how he was killed and by whom.
I snap out of it when the young police officer runs towards Ishigaki. "Inspector Ishigaki, there were no weapons found inside the museum."
"I see. Now go check if there's blood on the Tyrannosaurus model." Ishigaki orders.
"Understood!" The police officer agrees.
"Is he serious?" Godai queries.
"Anyhow, Ishigaki-san really seems like a detective." Yako praises.
"You sometimes spit out some random things..." Godai comments.
"Oh, really?" Yako questions, causing me to let out a soft chuckle.
"Well, he is confident in himself, I suppose. Nothing wrong with that." I comment with a chuckle.
I watch as Neuro looks at Ishigaki, a smirk on his face. We head to the aquarium to see Kirihara surrounded by reporters and cameras. "Even though his childhood friend died..." Yako trails off.
"It makes me feel sick," Godai admits.
Yako looks up at Godai. "Does that mean he should be a suspect?"
"How would I know." Godai denies.
"His actions are suspicious, though." I point out.
"To find out who the murderer is, we must know how the murder was committed," Neuro states before picking Yako up and sticking her head inside the Tyrannosaurus model.
"Hey, this is impossible!" Neuro lets her go, and Yako lets out a sigh of relief.
Ishigaki walks over. "Investigation proves that the Tyrannosaurus involvement is impossible."
"Isn't that common sense?" Yako exclaims, annoyed.
"Oh yeah, the lady from the gift shop said: 'Around the time when the murder happened, the elevator stopped working.' The reason is unknown, but it might have something to do with the case." The police officer adds.
"Hmph. Just as I thought, let's go." Neuro grabs the top of Yako's head and drags her along. I follow after them.
We go where the car accident happened. We head into the woods on the other side of the road. "The fog is getting thicker." Yako comments.
Neuro walks further ahead before crouching down. "The Dragon that the driver saw must be around here somewhere."
"What are you looking for?" Yako questions.
"I think there might be footprints or something around here," Neuro comments as he looks around.
"Footprints? That belongs to Kishi?" Yako questions before she suddenly lets out a scream.
Godai runs towards Yako. "What is it?"
Yako points in front of her, hand over her mouth. "There was a big snake-like shadow in the fog."
"Ah? Snake? You probably mistook the tree branches for it." Godai denies.
"No, it was moving!" Yako points out.
Neuro looks at Godai before pointing at him. "Servant Number Two, what were you doing?"
Godai looks down and lets out a yell. His flyer is unzipped. "I...I was taking a piss just then."
My eyes widen. Shadow…I see…that was used then. I look at Neuro. "Neuro…" I call out softly.
"I see. The mystery is on the tip of my tongue." Neuro comments as he looks away.
~~~Back at the Museum~~~
Neuro calls Kirihara up to the roof along with everyone else. "What is this about? Calling me to a place like this. There are a lot of media reporters who are interested in Kishi. Can't you wait after I'm doing with them?"
"Sensei has something to explain about the case. That's why we gathered everyone." Neuro states.
"Let's not talk about that for now. We should take an interview with Sensei." Kirihara offers.
"That won't be a problem. But only if you can go without guilt." Neuro adds.
Kirihara's right eyebrow twitches. "What do you mean?"
"The murderer is...YOU!" Yako says as she points at Kirihara.
"Please don't joke about that; why would I kill Mizoguchi? He was my childhood friend." Kirihara denies.
"Anyhow, let us explain the unusual sightings of the Kishi." Neuro continues.
"Who cares if you explain it or not? There are a lot of people who have seen it. Kishi really exists." Kirihara says with a scoff.
"Nope, it does NOT exist. What people saw was the shadow of a doll." Neuro points out.
"Shadow?" Ishigaki questions.
"For example, something like this." Neuro holds up a Kishi keyring. "Adding a light source behind the back, you can create a big projection on the fog, which acts like a screen. This is what is known as a mirage."
"...That means what I just saw was..." Yako trails off as she looks up at Godai.
"Sensei means, even if it's a small worm, if you shine light upon it, you can project an image of a big dragon." Neuro comments.
"W-Worm..." Godai mutters.
"I...I see. So, Mizoguchi used his models to scare tourists. That means he enraged the real Kishi." Kirihara states.
Neuro interrupts. "It was only to pretend that Kishi did it."
"Then tell me how did I kill him. Only something as big as Kishi's can rip a human in half," Kirihara demands.
"Not quite. There is another way." I comment.
"Then, let me explain your dirty trick. You killed Mizoguchi-san on the roof. Then, you manually stopped the elevator, preventing any access to the roof. After that, you used piano strings to hang the body outside through the rail. And attached the other side of the piano strings to the elevator. When you manually activated the elevator again, the force caused the piano string to cut through the body. Doing it this way, you can cut the body in half in a short period without getting blood on yourself. Then you can just take care of the piano wire afterwards." Neuro acknowledges.
Kirihara begins to laugh, shoulders shaking. His appearance changes to look like the Kishi model. His skin turns green, he sprouts a tail, and his head changes shape with a large mouth. "Exactly-ki, I was the one who killed him-ki!"
"What the hell is happening?" Ishigaki demands.
Kirihara points in front of him. "Scaring tourists, allowing them to believe that Kishi is real. Mizoguchi and I did this all to create a better town-ki! But Mizoguchi got scared after someone died. If I let him turn himself in, telling the world that Kishi doesn't exist, the number of tourists would drop, the Museum would be a goner-ki!"
"Even if the lie got out, it doesn't mean that Kishi doesn't exist!" Yako exclaims.
"Exactly! Kishi really exists!" Ishigaki agrees. "I believe...there really is a Kishi!"
"Are you an idiot? Nothing like that exists-ki! If it existed, there wouldn't be a point in working so hard-ki! Only dumbasses would believe that kind of thing-ki!" Kirihara insults.
"How mean," Yako mutters softly.
"There's no need to be so rude." I scold.
"Anyhow, since my plans are ruined, I'll just have to kill all of you," Kirihara says as he points at us.
"What? Kill us all?" Yako exclaims, surprised.
I let out a sigh. "They are all the same. Always resorting to threats."
"This massacre will be seen as Kishi's wrath, and it will be widely broadcasted-ki! Then, I will sell this whole town as a holy spot-ki!" He holds a bone in the air. A blast of wind surrounds him, causing everyone to cover their faces. I sense Neuro disappear from my side, no doubt to eat the mystery.
The wind disappears. "Wh-What?" Ishigaki questions.
Neuro appears at my side once more as Kirihara drops to his knees and falls onto his face. Neuro acts innocent and moves around my back. "What happened? Don't tell me it's the Dragon God's punishment. That's so harsh!"
Eventually, with everything solved, we get back to the car and continue to drive home. The radio is on as we do. "'Mayor Kirihara, who was arrested, kept on telling the police 'I saw Kishi!' 'This is Kishi's divine punishment.'"
"But, thanks to this, Kishi became famous." Yako points out. "The outcome made the town better, too."
"What are you talking about?" Godai demands. "How can a dragon really exist?" Godai, all of a sudden, lets out a yell.
"What is it?" Yako questions, leaning close.
Godai points out his window. "There's a dragon in the lake!"
"You're joking, where? There's nothing..." Yako trails off.
"No, No, No! There is! I saw it with my own eyes!" Godai denies.
"It might be a worm or something like that." Yako teases.
"I don't have a damn worm!" Godai shouts, causing me to laugh.
Neuro once again rests his head in my lap as I run my fingers through his hair. He seems to relax more and fall asleep quicker when I do. I listen to Yako and Godai argue as we drive the rest of the way home.
/Thank you for reading this chapter. Please leave a review. Your opinions are appreciated.\