[olympia]
Title: The Problem With Annihilation
ID: [olympia]
Word count: 11,600
Character(s) or pairing(s): Fuji Syuusuke, Fuji Yuuta, Tachibana Kippei, Rikkai ensemble
from Part 1
"I'm not breakin' any laws. The board says it's better to dump the trash in the clearing than pollutin' the air by putting it in the incinerator." Okamoto Goemon was a largish man who used street slang liberally in his speech. According to his file, he hadn't even finished high school.
He's more concerned about the trash ordinances than anything else. There's a murder that's been committed and that's all he cares about!
"So, Okamoto-san let me get this straight. The school board ordered you and Taniguchi-san to 'dump' the trash in the grove?" Shinichi asked, somewhat exasperated.
"Yeah. So it's not our fault that there's all that junk there."
"Yes, there's nothing to worry about that. We just want to know when have you started throwing the trash there, Okamoto-san." Megure said soothingly.
"Well, ever since Taniguchi got the trolley fixed?"
"The trolley was broken?"
"Yeah, for months mebe a year. Kuroda on th' board had a fit about it since we hadda put paper and leaves into the incinerator."
"What did you do with 'the paper and leaves' before that?"
"We tossed them in the clearing, always had."
"When exactly was this?"
"Months ago? I dunno."
This is ridiculous! No one could be this inobservant!
It always astonished Shinichi that people could let events pass them by though Shinichi had come across people in his varied investigations that did exactly that.
It's probably Tanaguchi then unless he's pretending to be ignorant… The trolley breaking for the crucial months between the murder and discovery is just too much of a coincidence.
Takagi came in to whisper to Inspector Megure.
"You are free to go, Okamoto-san. Just don't move out of town for the next month or so."
"Thank you, keibu-san." The man muttered grudgingly. Inspector Megure waited till that man was well out of hearing range before talking to Shinichi.
"They found some traces of blood on one of the bins. And Tanaguchi-san, it seems, have given us the slip. He hasn't been to work this morning and wasn't in his apartment when they checked. We've issued a warrant for his arrest. Here's a sketch of the suspect."
It probably is Tanaguchi then, but is he also my suspect? And where could he have hidden Kirihara-kun and Amaya-kun if it were so? Certainly not in his apartment, and he probably doesn't have the time to move them so…
The man in the sketch had long flowing black hair and eyes. The artist must have done quite a remarkable job since it seemed to glare at Shinichi, almost taking a life of its own.
"Do you have a list of places where Tanaguchi-san was seen before he disappeared?"
***
The docks were teeming with workers in their T-Shirts and jeans. All sorts of crates and large boxes were being loaded and carted off of ships. Each one must be noted on a foreman's checklist and in some instances checked for damage. Shinichi felt very out of place in the bustle as he walked around.
It's really like an anthill.
"Shigure-san, may I have some…" Shinichi read the foreman's name on his nameplate.
"No! I don't have time." The foreman shook his clipboard at Shinichi with one hand and bit a sandwich in the other. The man walked off into the warehouse before Shinichi could ask again.
Damn it.
The warehouses were off-limits. They had security at the entrances and unfriendly ones at that.
"Miyagi-san…Naito-san…may I ask you a question?"
He only got unfriendly stares for his trouble and the next people he asked refused to even look at him, much less look at his copy of the sketch. Finally, he found someone who was willing enough to answer his questions.
"No, he hasn't been seen here in a while." The dockworker said, shaking his head. Shinichi paid took the man's bill at a mobile ramen stall in thanks.
Well, that was unproductive. I suppose I should go back to asking around the tennis clubs. It's quite possible someone might know where the missing kids were spotted last. It will give me a starting point, at least.
"Amaya-san?"
"I just thought of something. Sei-kun's closest to his cousin Keigo. I've informed him of Sei's disappearance and he's offered his help."
"And this Keigo is?"
"Oh, sorry. That is Atobe Keigo. He might know where Sei-kun hangs out when he's not at school. When Sei goes to Tokyo to play in the street courts, he gets dropped off either at Seishun Gakuen or at his cousin's house. Here's his address."
Seishun Gakuen again? Interesting.
Shinichi remembered the school name. He had yet to interview the players but that was the school Fuji Syuusuke had been going to when he had been murdered and also still had one player injured by Kirihara Akaya.
***
"Ah, finally you have come to meet with ore-sama. Let us go into the parlor."
Uh-oh, another spoiled brat and one with an ego to match.
"I will do anything in my power to help Sei-kun, he's my favorite cousin and…he was behaving a little strangely before he disappeared." Atobe Keigo said in a quieter tone as they were left alone on the black leather couches by his butler who went to fetch refreshments.
So maybe this won't be like the fiasco with Seiji's little clique. That is if he's not just making this up to sound important…
"What do you mean by that, Atobe-san?"
"Sei-kun called me a couple of days before he'd gone missing…"
***
"Kei-nii?"
"Yes, squirt, it's me. What's so important that you will interrupt ore-sama in his daily tennis practice?" Keigo snapped. Nothing annoyed him more than being interrupted in practice.
I have less time to practice these days.
Even hearing his favorite 'cousin' on the phone wasn't as good as having a good workout with the pro he had hired to keep him in shape for the season. His father had insisted that he at least keep appearances by spending time with his books even when he was fairly certain that he would pass the exams to attend Hyotei High quite easily. That meant less time with tennis and that made him irritable.
"There's something I've found out about...something we've discussed before."
"What we've discussed before? We've talked about many things."
Whatever it is, it must be important enough for him to obfuscate this much. Could it be something about THAT?
"Um-hmm. Now that I think about it, it's probably something I need to attend to personally. Sorry to bother you."
"Sei-kun--"
Click.
***
"So what could be that important?" Shinichi knew the question was a mistake as soon as he said it. Despite his haughtiness, Atobe had been quite helpful so far but this was something that he should have known better to ask so bluntly.
Whatever it was, it was something that was said in confidence and for all his gregariousness; Atobe-san doesn't seem to be the kind to betray any of those.
"This is important, it might be the reason why your cousin disappeared." Shinichi probed as the silence lengthened.
Atobe's eyes took on a speculative gleam and his hand raised up to play at his bangs. He finally flipped them away from his face.
"There are a few things that we talked about. In his file, Sei-kun's parents died in a car accident. He's always worried that the accident was contrived. They were involved in some dubious activities."
"How did your cousin get adopted if it were so?"
"I had his background investigated thoroughly before I recommended him to my cousins, I assure you. He was one of those children from that orphanage. Have you heard about the Kubota Jun Orphanage scandal?"
As if anyone hadn't.
It had been quite a big blowup a year ago when an orphanage run by the government had been found to be faking papers for more than twenty non-existent orphans to cover the staff's embezzlement. The kids have been kept isolated groups and studying in seven different schools in the district so that a cursory questioning of the kids would not have given the scheme away. Most of the kids had been neglected and badly fed or clothed. The way the police had handled the arrest did not assure them anymore than the loss of their guardians.
"Of course."
"I was one of the volunteers who helped with the kids and that's how I met Sei-kun. He made quite an impression on ore-sama."
You do volunteer work?
That surprised Shinichi, he'd figured the one and only son of a Diet family would be more spoiled than that and for the most part he was proven correct.
Why there's more to you than first impressions suggest, Atobe-san!
"Do you know anybody aside from his teammates and school friends that might have known where he might have been the day he disappeared?"
"Most of the Seigaku regulars from the previous year, as well as a Rokaku ex-regular from Chiba, Saeki Kojiro. Saeki had shown much interest in Sei-kun, he even visits my cousin." There was some annoyance in the last sentence.
Hmmm, do I hear disapproval in there?
"You don't approve of your cousin mingling with…"
"I was the one who introduced him to Seigaku. I heard from Tezuka of Seigaku that he remarked on Sei-kun's resemblance to Fuji Syuusuke. They were best friends when Fuji had been alive and now he's shown interest in Sei-kun?"
Sharp, maybe not a "master" as you claimed to be but definitely sharp enough to understand that Saeki-san might just be using your cousin as replacement for someone. Now that is curious situation.
"Any place you might have thought Sei-kun might have gone other than his school?"
"The public tennis courts, a couple of sports clubs and Kuwamura Sushi which belongs to a Seigaku ex-regular's family."
He seems to be as involved in tennis as any of these other kids are and Inihara-san thinks that he could be content not being involved in the tennis club. Shows that he knows nothing at all about his "friend".
Atobe pulled out a notepad from a side table and started to write what appeared to be a list of addresses.
"The last three are street courts both here and in Kanagawa." Atobe said, as Shinichi looked the addresses over.
"Thank you for your time, Atobe-san, you were more than helpful." Shinichi said, rising from the couch to leave.
"It was no bother. Just find ore-sama's cousin." Atobe said without the condescending graciousness that marked the start of this conversation.
Not that much of a brat at all.
"Oh…and ore-sama has arranged for Hiyoshi to meet you in the living room for his interview." Atobe added with a smirk as Shinichi turned as he was going through the private parlor's doorway.
Sharp, definitely.
***
"Geez, don't fuss, mom." Saeki Kojiro said as his mother went off to get refreshments from the kitchen. He had just gotten home from school, still in the uniform of Rokaku.
"Saeki-san? Can we talk somewhere relatively private?"
"This is relatively private." There was a snarky edge to the Saeki-san's voice.
"I would rather not have your mother hear what I have to say."
"Well, I don't know…"
This run-around is not making you look innocent, boyo. Though I had thought I could expect more cooperation from you, Saeki-san. I did solve your best friend's murder. Tachibana-san must have kept his word not to spread it around.
Shinichi stared at Saeki hard.
"It's that serious, huh?" Saeki said finally, he considered for a while and then yelled. "Mom, I'm going out to the playground for a moment."
***
Saeki led Shinichi to a child's playground a couple of blocks away from his house. Shinichi noted that there were a few elementary children that were on the swings and on the merry-go-round and several Rokaku junior high students were sitting about in the grass talking. Saeki waved to a couple of them and then sauntered to the monkey bars that were currently unoccupied. He lounged there and looked at Shinichi.
"So what is this about?" Saeki asked finally.
"Saeki-san, where and when did you see Amaya Seiji last?" Shinichi didn't reply instead he asked his own question.
"About three weeks ago in the street courts in Tokyo, why?" Saeki's annoyance in the evasion was all in that last word.
"Not later than that?"
"Why? What's happened to Sei-kun?" There was concern and dawning suspicion in the tone and nothing more, certainly no knowledge. Shinichi decided up the ante.
It could be an act.
"Because Amaya-kun has been missing for more than a week now."
"He's missing?" Shinichi couldn't detect anything but concern in that tone.
So maybe he really doesn't know anything.
"Yes, he and the current captain of the Rikkai junior high tennis team have disappeared."
"Kirihara," the name was bit out.
"You think he has something to do with Amaya-kun's disappearance?"
"He was always hanging about like a jealous boyfriend. Obsessed..."
"As you are?"
"I'm just being friendly. He is very like my late best friend, tantei-san." The sarcasm was back in the tone.
Defensive much?
"Besides, I don't follow him around unlike some curly-haired bastards. I just see him about once every few weeks when we end up playing at the same street court."
That got Shinichi's attention.
"Kirihara followed Amaya-kun around?"
"Yes, Sei-kun grumbled about it to me and Tezuka more than once."
"And you really don't meet with 'Sei-kun' outside of tennis?"
"Really. We just chat in the courts but then I meet him about every three to four weeks. I've taken to meeting Seigaku regulars and ex-regulars. Fuji Yuuta's gone back to Seigaku and with his brother gone-Well, I try to look out for him."
***
"Oi, Echizen, Kaidoh, Yuuta-kun come 'ere." Momoshiro Takeshi, the current captain of Seigaku shouted over din of the tennis club. Seigaku's tennis club was certainly livelier than the Rikkai. Conversations were loud and animated unlike in the other school where the club members were talked in hushed voices.
But then they didn't lose a club member this time around, much less two, so…
A capped short boy with yellow eyes, a tall rangy boy with a bandana, and a boy with the same hair and eye color as Fuji Syuusuke stopped whatever they were doing and converged on their captain.
"Arigato gozaimasu, Kudo-san." They all bowed down in front of him.
Their gratitude seemed sincere. Hmm, maybe I can use that.
Shinichi might have solved the murder of Fuji Syuusuke but he was no closer from solving the kidnapping case he was hired for. He needed to talk to Echizen and…Yuuta?
As in Fuji Yuuta? The deceased's brother?
And Fuji Syuusuke was on the initial list of Kirihara's potential enemies.
They hadn't been in good terms from what I read, what is he doing here in Seishun Gakuen? Wasn't he supposed to be at that other junior high? St. Rudolph's? Well, there's nothing wrong with him transferring here since his brother's not here to cause friction…
Shinichi had read about Fuji Yuuta in the files the inspector had sent him. Yuuta had been investigated in connection with his brother's disappearance.
"I can get Tezuka-buchou and the rest of the senpai will be here in a few minutes. Sit down and have a drink." Momoshiro said, as he waved with one hand and texted with the other. While Shinichi had been lost in thought, the captain had gone over to his gym bag and got his cell phone out.
"I would appreciate that, Momoshiro-san."
***
"So, when did you last see Amaya Seiji?" Shinichi directed the question at all the tennis players around him.
"Hmmm, I guess maybe a month ago at my family's restaurant."
"We saw him two weeks ago, didn't we, Tezuka-buchou?" The bouncy one with the cat eyes, Eiji Kikumaru, said, his arm around a shorthaired boy's neck.
That must be his partner Oishi Shuichirou, the former vice-captain.
"Yeah, he and Kirihara at the Funabashi public court without the rest of their team. Didn't he end up playing the last set with you, buchou?" Oishi asked.
"He did, but it wasn't the last set. Kirihara-kun started another game with Yuuta-kun afterwards." Confirmed the ex-captain, Tezuka Kunimitsu.
"Yeah, Tezuka-san. We played till it was dark, Amaya-kun was there with us." Something about Yuuta's voice was tense.
It could be leftover hostility because of his brother. Still, it needs checking. Hmm, so close! They were nice and vulnerable with the night coming on and they still had to catch a bus to Kanagawa, but the time just wasn't right, damn it. It's the closest I've come yet. If these tennis players are serious about ALL their games…
Then it hit Shinichi right there, Kirihara probably knew about where Amaya-kun had been playing when he disappeared. He had been following the other boy around after all. Saeki said and now Seigaku confirmed it. That was the only story that fit the facts.
He couldn't have disappeared at school, there were just too many people there at any one time. Someone would have noticed before the day was out. He would have been vulnerable in between matches on a public venue such as a street court, waiting for the bus or coming from the bus stop. I need to ask them again, if they have any idea if Kirihara had said anything about meeting someone for a match.
Shinichi's suspicion of Yuuta was forgotten in the light of this revelation.
***
"I'm going to go out, 'Neesan." Yuuta said, he was wearing jeans and T-shirt and wasn't carrying his tennis bag.
"That's nice, going out to watch a movie?"
It's about time, it's been months and…
The glare Yumiko got nearly made her jump. For one heart-stopping moment, she thought Yuuta was going to hit her.
"No."
Yuuta left without another word after that. Yumiko should have known better than to ask. Yuuta had not been himself since Syuusuke died.
They were not in good terms and rarely spent time together anymore, not like they did when they were small kids. I thought he would have taken Syuusuke's death better…best really…
But Yuuta didn't.
He took it worst, of all of us…and he's not getting better…
Yumiko remembered all too well.
***
Yumiko blinked gritty eyes at the clock and saw it blink one-fifteen at her. She had woken up with tears in her eyes and covers kicked over the side of the bed.
A nightmare about Syuusuke again…
She stood up and sighed, her throat felt dry from all the crying. She opened her door as quietly as she could and crept down the stairs, not wanting to disturb anyone. Her father was going to the office early tom-today-and it seemed like he just got in about two hours ago.
There's a nightlight open in the living room, I wonder if mother forgot to close it?
Their mother had waited up for their father as always and had switched off all the lights except for the small nightlight as she did so.
At least I won't stumble in the dark as I go the kitchen, I'll close it on the way back…
Yumiko got to the kitchen without further incidents. She got a clean glass and opened the refrigerator, her heart thumping painfully in her chest as she saw the empty shelf where Syuusuke's favorite wasabi sushi used to occupy. He used to buy them at least once a month, and they kept for a bit.
Now, now, no more crying, he would be upset if he'd see you now. It's been four months and he'd say that you should have moved on by now…
But it was hard; Yumiko didn't know why her brother had to die.
He wasn't involved in anything dangerous. All he did was play tennis, study and photograph things. Don't start that again.
Yumiko was sick of this thinking, sick of regrets and sorrow and things past mending, so she tried not to think about it but in the death of the night it still haunted her.
Oh, that nightlight, right…I need to close it.
She stood up, washing the glass in the sink before putting it away. Then she turned down the hallway to go to the living room to close the light and froze.
There's someone there… Yuuta?
It was her other brother. He was wearing clothes that looked like they hadn't been washed for days.
Probably since Thursday, when I saw him last in new clothes...
Yuuta rarely went out of the room he had once shared with Syuusuke anymore, outside of school and tennis practice. Yumiko had a sneaking suspicion that he'd skipped some days and just stayed out somewhere so as not to incur their mother's wrath. One time, she saw him leaf through a photo book that she could have sworn should have been burnt with the rest of Syuusuke's things. -1- Still, Yumiko didn't have the heart to deprive him of the comfort the book brought so she didn't say a word but continued to try to pry him out of his room.
And there he is, now. What is he doing?
Yuuta sat motionless by the small family altar where they burned incense on the proper days for Syuusuke. He was staring at the small urn on it.
As if he was talking to Syuusuke's ashes and they could reply…I suppose mother was right, everyone has their own way of grieving.
Yumiko left Yuuta to his strange communion and crept back up the stairs to her bed.
***
Yes, Yuuta had not been the same since but their mother had always excused everything he had done.
She keeps repeating that old phrase that it is his way of grieving and he'll get over it but it's been months and he's not…and from what I see he'll never be…
Someone might point out that Yuuta was at least making the effort to go out and have a life but Yumiko knew with the same bone-chilling premonition that he wasn't.
It's the same feeling, I felt when Syuusuke didn't come home that day…
She knew with a surety that if nothing were done soon she'd be losing another brother.
And there's nothing I could do about it…
***
"YOU of all people have to FORGET HIM!"
"I never dated your brother, you fruitcake!"
SMACK.
"You are lying!"
All the rage in Yuuta build up to this moment as he remembered looking Syuusuke's photo album. His mind snapped back to the time.
***
How dare he! How DARE he! How DARE He! How DARE He! How DARE He! How DARE he! How DARE He! How DARE He! How DARE He! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE!
It was an outraged litany in Yuuta's mind. Open on his lap was the photo book he had found wedged behind Syuusuke-nii's headboard and the wall. It was open to a particular page with one photo in particular, which he circled with a red marker repetitively. It was a photo of Kirihara in a snit, his eyes weren't quite red but was close to it from the fierce way he glared. Written under it in Syuusuke's neat handwriting was "Isn't He Cute When He's Mad :)". It had obviously been taken in one of the street courts. From the background and the lighting, Yuuta judged the time was during sunset. Yuuta had always suspected that his older brother had preferred guys to girls. It didn't bother him in the least. It was just part of Syuusuke, like his slightly strange sense of humor or his sadistic tendencies.
And they liked him too…
He always suspected that there had been many guys had crushes on his brother and that didn't bother him either. That opened the field and really, he always thought that Syuusuke would ask for his approval when it came to boyfriends.
I always thought that he'd be going out with that stoic Seigaku captain or Koji-san but anyone was fine as long as they valued aniki. Challenge Syuusuke, my ass! He was always eying him, like he wanted to eat him up. And he had the nerve to forget aniki when aniki liked him too! I'll make him pay for that…
The marker broke as Yuuta pressed down hard.
Snap! Drip. Drip. Drip.
Ink flowed a deep, rich crimson on the page, dripping slowly down on the floor like blood.
***
"YOU ARE LYING!" Yuuta repeated as he punched Kirihara again.
"Yuuta-kun, wherever your brother is right now. He probably wouldn't want you do anything like this!"
"And you're his whore! You're the reason why he forgot 'niisan!"
He really looks like 'niisan...
Somehow the thought enraged Yuuta even more.
Whore! I'll show you!
***
"Hurry on it then, he's been gone for almost two weeks already."
Wait, two weeks?
Of all the things he could have found out, Shinichi didn't expect this.
"Two weeks? How long has Kirihara-san been missing? It was to our understanding that he went missing after Amaya Seiji did."
"You would think that would you? Since you were hired by Amaya's dad, were you?"
"Niou-kun, you can hardly fault the detective for his wrong information." Yagyuu put a restraining hand on his partner.
"Yes, especially since even Akaya's parents didn't know he went missing until after Amaya-kun was." Sanada's tone held a lot of censure in it. The tall boy with the prissy expression on his face clearly thought badly of the Kiriharas for their ignorance.
"Be fair, Sanada. Akaya said he wanted to skip the usual school trip to stay and get more training in for the tennis team. When he didn't turn up for practice, the tennis team assumed that he couldn't get out of it. The teachers on the trip assumed he was excused. His parents assumed he had gone to the trip anyway," Yukimura explained, with a smile for Sanada that was both strict and gentle.
Got lost in the shuffle with careless parents. Now, I wonder was that intentional on the kidnapper's part? Did he know that Kirihara was not going to be expected home and that people would not question his absence for days? Or was it just a strange coincidence? And if he did know, how did he know?
Shinichi knew that this month was the time for school trips. It might be that the kidnapper had gambled on that fact. After all, that was how he got time off to investigate this case hands on. His class at Teitan was going on a weeklong trip to Hokkaido. His father excused him.
Ran and Sonoko will be on the beaches in their bikinis about now…
The thought flitted through his mind for an instant he wished he had gone with them. He was a teenage boy, after all. But he pulled his mind back to the subject.
And this changes things. The last person to see Kirihara would be...Fuji Yuuta! I have to call Inspector Megure!
Epilogue
It was chance that they were both in London. Conan had been working on case that brought him to England and he never ever passed London without making a stop at 221 Baker Street. -3- Amaya Seiji was passing London en route to the French Open and had decided to see the sights. It seemed fitting that they meet there in the 19th century study of a detective that never lived.
"Amaya-san?" Conan said discreetly.
"Do I know you?" Amaya blinked, quite willing to pretend they have never met each other though Conan thought he saw a fleeting spark of recognition.
But in a way we never have…
It was Shinichi Amaya had met, and Amaya knew better than anyone how different that was to meeting Conan.
Like I never met Fuji Syuusuke…
It took Conan years before he realized the connection, albeit he wasn't certain until this moment.
He had been bruised, battered and bleeding when they had managed to retrieve him, half-naked and the report had said that there were signs of possible sexual abuse. Why he convinced his parents not to press charges, despite the abuse he had suffered in Fuji Yuuta's hands...I thought him a saint at that time...but now...
He fished for something to say and remembered a newspaper he'd seen in random.
"I was impressed by your progress through the Australian Open."
Let all observers make that out if they will…
Living under the paranoia of being discovered by the Black Organization had taught him some discretion.
The Black Organization may have been destroyed two years ago but I'd rather not take the chance.
Amaya-san was as much survivor of that criminal syndicate and knew his words for what they were.
"Thank you--"
"Edogawa-san, Conan Edogowa, I'm a detective. If you could spare a moment, I would like to hear more about it."
"Well, Edogawa-san, I do have some time. I hear that this restaurant that makes the most authentic Japanese sushi."
***
The restaurant didn't only boast of genuine Japanese sushi but offered decently private nooks. It was a good place to tell Amaya what he needed to know.
Now how to bring it up?
Conan knew that he should find a way to tell Amaya about the downfall of the Black Organization. It was something that would probably relieve the man of some of his paranoia. Conan knew how it felt like living under the oppressive feeling and sympathized. He wasn't completely free of it even now.
I can't say it outright.
That would give them both minor heart attacks.
"Edogawa-san, you remind me of someone. Are you related to Kudo Shinichi-san?"
Tactful way of putting it…
"We're cousins."
"Aa. So how is your cousin?"
"He's dead, for seven years now."
"My condolences for your loss and his parents'."
The opening I've been waiting for!
"Thanks. The ones who killed him were brought to justice two years ago but Aunt and Uncle would appreciate the gesture." Conan met Amaya's blue eyes squarely making his meaning unmistakable.
"I'm glad for you." A razor-sharp smile of appreciation flitted across Amaya's face before settling into something calmer.
Message received and understood.
"I hear they have an excellent array of sashimi. Even eel…"
The conversation turned to their respective orders and nothing more was said about the matter.
-THE END-
The trouble with annihilation is that you never quite know where the bodies are buried.
R.M. Meluch's The Queen's Squadron
Author's Notes:
-1- Buddhist funerary customs, the funeral ceremony and cremation of the body and of the dead person's belongings for them to use in the afterlife. These are accurate to the author's experience.
-2- A dating ban is enforced in all middle schools all over Japan.
-3- 221B Baker Street is Sherlock Holmes' lodgings that he shared with Dr. Watson. They reproduced the place from the book and made it into a tourist destination.