SailorStar9: So, with Chapter 105 uploaded, this is Chapter 106 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Pairings: Established!Furuya Rei (Amuro Tooru)/Mizuno Ami

Disclaimers: I own absolutely nothing, except this plot and pairing.

Chapter 106: Taiko Meijin's Shogi Board, Brilliant Move

"Is it true that you left Genda-san in this room to go shopping before Haneda Meijin, Yumi and Conan-kun arrived?" Sato asked.

"He said he'd put together some snacks." Hishinuma replied.

"It's what we always did." Uryu supplied.

"What kind of snack?" Sato inquired.

"Like cheese and prosciutto on crackers." Uryu answered. "You can eat them while playing without getting your hands dirty."

"This must've happened when someone came here during the ten minutes we were out shopping." Hishinuma surmised.

"The front door was opened." Katsumata sobbed.

"He probably unlocked the door because he thought we'd returned." Uryu guessed.

"But isn't it possible that one of you pretended to leave actually returned to the room to kill him?" Sato pointed out.

"That's not what happened." Hishinuma protested. "I bought hot coffee enough for all of us at the nearby coffee shop. They were like of lukewarm, but I really bought them."

"We heard the coffee's flavor had gotten worse, so we drank some at the entrance downstairs." Uryu added.

"But couldn't you use instant coffee and water from a hot water heater to make lukewarm coffee?" Takagi wondered.

"Actually, the water heater's broken right now." Hishinuma explained. "It only dispenses cold water. We've been talking about how we needed to call a repairman.

"Then, how about an electric kettle?" Takagi asked.

"I broke that one the other day, too." Hishinuma admitted.

"What about that stove?" Sato turned. "Couldn't you use that to boil water?"

"But when we found Genda-san, Hishinuma-san and Mina put the bags they were holding on top of the stove." Uryu explained. "Why don't you check the bottom of the bags?"

"There's nothing unusual about them." Takagi inspected the bags.

"Then nobody used that stove." Uryu insisted. "We were out shopping for about ten minutes. If someone had used the stove to boil water, it would stay hot for about 15 minutes. The bags should be burnt or melted."

"Then, who bought this beard?" Takagi wondered.

"I did." Katsumata answered. "I'm really in that bakery's beard. The store's nearby and I always bought some."

"But, you could buy beard beforehand." Takagi reminded.

"I bought hot freshly baked beard." Katsumata insisted.

"They really were warm and tasty looking." Hishinuma confirmed.

"It's too bad they didn't have any freshly fried curry beard, though." Uryu interjected.

"It was their most popular item, so it was sold out." Hishinuma wiped her tears.

"There doesn't seem to be a microwave here." Sato looked at the kitchen. "It would be impossible to heat beard."

"Uryu-san, what did you buy?" Takagi asked.

"I bought ice cream." Uryu replied. "They're from a shop that opened around here recently. Everyone said they loved them after I bought some once. Putting them in the freezer wasn't a priority at the time. They were freezing cold when I bought them."

"But if you hid the ice cream in the freezer..." Takagi stated.

"Before we went shopping, we all checked to see if we were out of anything." Hishinuma explained. "There wasn't any ice cream then. And today, we met at the Shogi hall before heading here together. Nobody could've put something in the room beforehand."

"Hishinuma-san came empty-handed." Uryu added. "And Mina and I only brought small handbags."

"Which means, this murder might be the work of an outsider." Sato mused. "Not only that, but it's likely that these are serial murders. It was publicly announced this afternoon that when missing Shogi player Nishikido Kimiharu, who was suspected for match fixing, was found, one of the legs of the Shogi board next to the body had been cut off. And two legs had been removed from the Shogi board next to Genda's body. It's only a few hours since the announcement, so it's unlikely this was a copycat."

"Did any of you know Nishikido?" Takagi inquired.

"The three of us didn't." Hishinuma answered. "But apparently, the late Genda-san and Nishikido were friends. These study sessions were originally ran by Nishikido-san. The four original members were Nishikido-san, Genda-san, Kishimoto Yuhei-san, who recently became depressed, and Uryu Kinji, who went pro around the same time I did. Uryu is Shoko-san's older brother."

"I've heard rumors about those four, too." Shukichi supplied. "They say there's a foursome that's been rapidly improving their skills lately."

"But why did Nishikido stop attending the study sessions?" Yumi wondered.

"It could be because Nishikido-kun was winning a bunch of games and had ranked up." Shukichi guessed. "Everyone wants to play stronger opponents when they advance in rank."

"By the way, why did Kishimoto become depressed?" Takagi wondered.

"I think it's because my brother Kinji killed himself." Uryu answered.

"Why?" Sato frowned.

"I don't know." Uryu admitted.

"Not only that, bur Kinji-san was doing great at the time and winning a bunch of matches." Katsumata added. "We were so certain he'd rank up that we even celebrated beforehand."

"Mina was dating my brother." Uryu supplied.

"So, you don't know why he did it?" Sato asked.

"No," Hishinuma replied. "Just before he died, he said someone from the Shogi League asked to meet him. Kishimoto-san became depressed after Kinji-san killed himself. He really looked up to Kinji-san. After that, I was invited to join the study sessions because they didn't have enough members, and I invited the girls. These two were totally disheartened after Kinji's death, so I invited them to cheer them up."

"In any case, it sounds like we'll have to talk to Kishimoto." Sato decided. "He may know why Uryu killed himself. And his suicide may be connected to the murders of those two Shogi players."

"Those two may not be the only ones." Conan cut in. "There are two legs left on the Shogi board."

"You mean there's going to be more murders?" Hishinuma gaped.

"What are you scaring them for?" Yumi chided.

"But I bet that's what Shinichi-nii-chan would say." Conan whined.

"Do you know Kishimoto's address?" Sato asked.

"Not his exact address." Hishinuma replied. "But I think he lives in a detached house next to the public bath. It's quicker to show you. Next to the black chimney, you can see from here is..." he pulled back the curtains. "Wait, I see smoke. Isn't that around Kishimoto's house?"

"In any case, let's head there." Takagi suggested.

"Return to your homes and wait there." Sato instructed. "Don't do anything without speaking to us first. Don't forget, your lives could be in danger, too."

At the burn site...

"Inspector Yuminaga." Sato called out to the inspector from the Arson Division. "What's the situation?"

"We avoided a total loss." Yuminaga replied. "But the resident who was inside was burned to a crisp. Since no vital signs were detected on the body, he seems to have died before the fire started. Forensics say it's possible he was alive until shortly before the fire started because his rectal temperature hadn't fallen much."

"Shortly before?" Takagi echoed. "He died after that Shogi player was murdered at the Beika City apartment?"

"I heard from Megure that a Shogi board was found at the crime scene." Yuminaga supplied. "We actually found one here, too. A Shogi board missing three legs." he showed the two detectives the charred board.

"So, they really are serial murders." Sato realized.

"Right after Genda's murder." Takagi added. "But now, we can't ask him about the suicide."

"Let's check out other people who may have known him." Sato suggested.

"More importantly, what's Conan-kun doing here?" Yuminaga wondered.

"He snuck into the patrol car at some point." Takagi facepalmed.

The next day...

"This is impossible." Genta whined, receiving another capsule toy from the capsule vending machine. "It's this Yaiba capsule toys. I got #1 the day before and a #2 yesterday, so I was sure I'd get a #3 today. But I got another #1 today. I bet these capsules are rigged not to give you a #3."

"Genta-kun, things don't always happen so conveniently on order." Mitsuhiko chided.

"Maybe I'd get one if I mixed them up." Genta decided.

"You'll destroy the vending machine." Fumio pointed out. "These things happen by chance; just be patient."

"Yumi-san, what is it?" Conan took the call. "What? Taiko Meijin hasn't come home? Not since last night?"

In front of her and Shukichi's apartment...

"Late last night, he said he'd be out late since he was meeting with a friend and headed out." Yumi explained. "I went to sleep without waiting for him to return, but he wasn't there when I woke up. I thought he must've come home and left again early in the morning, but I've asked around and nobody's seen him."

With the Detective Boys...

"Did you call those three Shogi players?" Conan asked.

"I tried calling, but none of them said they knew." Yumi replied. "I thought you might know, so I called you."

"Was Taiko Meijin acting strange when you left the apartment when the murder occurred?" Conan inquired.

"I wouldn't call it strange exactly." Yumi recalled. "When we left the apartment with the three Shogi players, Chukichi suddenly said he forgot something and borrowed the key and headed back inside. I asked him what he forgot when he came back, but he said it was a mistake on his part. I'll try calling someone else."

In front of Yumi and Shukichi's apartment...

"Maybe he's shocked you suspected him of cheating." Miike suggested.

"It sounds like he wasn't cheating at all." Chiba pointed out.

"I just tailed him a little. "Yumi fumed. "Could you guys not make such a huge fuss over this? You guys are lucky you get along so well."

"Naeko-chan and I just got into a huge argument last night because of a difference in opinion." Chiba blinked.

"Because you laughed and called me an idiot because I served cream stew over rice." Miike fumed.

"Nobody does that." Chiba chuckled. "It's not curry."

"It's all the same in your stomach once it's in your stomach." Miike argued. "And in that way, you only have to wash one dish."

In the Kudo household...

"How unusual for you to call me, boy." Akai took the call. "What? Shukichi's missing after getting involved in a murder case?"

"Taiko Meijin might've identified the culprit and went to see him." Conan explained. "All three suspects are Shogi players like him, so he probably wanted to convince them to turn themselves in."

"Tell me more about the case." Akai took out a notebook and a pen.

"Could you put your phone on speaker so I can listen, too?" Yusaku requested. "I've got nothing better to do."

"The world's leading mystery enthusiast is currently at your disposal." Yukiko beamed.

"I see." Yusaku took over. "As the number of victims increases, the number of legs on the Shogi board decreases. But you already know the number of legs is a feint."

"But like I said earlier, all three of them have alibis." Conan reported.

"You said Akai-kun's brother seemed to have noticed something." Yusaku reminded. "What made you think that?"

"When the Meijin moved around the people in front of him to get a look at the body, he touched the kitchen counter." Conan replied. "He held his hand as though he'd touched something. I don't know if it's hot or cold, but his expression changed after that."

"What was on top of the kitchen counter then?" Yusaku inquired.

"Nothing significant." Conan answered. "Just two ice trays, a mixer and a toaster."

"Sounds like there is a magic tool one of them used to fabricate an alibi." Yusaku smirked.

"Which one of them sounds like..." Conan was skeptical. "I see." he recalled Genta shaking the capsule toy machine.

"In any case, sounds like we need to hurry." Yusaku concluded. "Meet up with Akai-kun and make sure his brother is safe."

SailorStar9: Any OOC-ness is regretted, by the way. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Read and review.