Archive of Our Own

The manor stood, imposing in all black on top of the scraggly cliff face. It was a treacherous hike up winding and narrow foot paths where one misstep might send you falling to your doom into the watery grave below. It was where detective Mary found herself, on a dreary afternoon, pulling her tan trenchcoat closer to herself as she climbed up, wincing as the wind sent a drizzle of rain into her face.

It was bitterly cold for an October evening; then again, she was visiting a Momobami estate. The family wasn't known for being the kindest and most welcoming of people.

She would have rather avoided this whole thing, but she was one of the best detectives on the force and her chef was insistent that she be there to catch that 'Momobami scum' in something illegal and finally send one of them to jail. He had a personal grudge from years ago, and wanted to see if only just one of the members locked up before he passed on. The man was already so old and frail but he kept living on through spite, always upset that no matter what he did, those Momobamis were slipper than eels and kept getting away with it.

Mary had no confidence towards this case, knowing she would let the chef down. There were too many old memories...

She raised a chilled hand and knocked on the heavy wooden door. It was opened up within a second by none other than Yumemi herself. “Oh, wow. When they said they would send someone, I didn't think it would be you,” the pop star giggled.

Yumemi had changed over the years. Fame would do that to someone. Starting out as an innocent starlet, soon the stardom got to her. Drugs, alcohol, several arrests for unlawful conduct, and Yumemi's image was heading down the shitter. Her business was all over the news. After several stints in rehab, she was trying to rebrand herself and now here she was, mired in something else. “What's it like working for the pigs?” She made a snorting noise, and Mary held back the violent urge rising in her.

She had spent years in therapy dealing with anger management but just one minute in her old classmate's presence and she was about to revert to her teenaged self. Cursing, spitting, and punching people.

Mary tightened her jaw and smiled at Yumemi. “And what's it like being a possible suspect in a murder case? Must not be good for your already bad reputation.”

Yumemi's face turned a shade similar to her now red dyed hair. Her hand gripped the doorknob tightly. Saori emerged from the shadows behind her. She put a hand on Yumemi's shoulder in a gesture to calm her down.

“It's good to see you Saotome-san, even if the circumstances...” Saori trailed off. The woman had not changed at all during the years, only grown more serious and mature. The same tied back hair, the same glasses and the same taste in smart clothing. She wasn't even in costume. Or maybe she was, dressed as an accountant.

Mary didn't share that sentiment. “Can I come in?” she asked. The rain had started to pick up and it was beating against her shoulders. In the back of her mind she worried about getting back to the mainland. She had taken a boat here, a private one generously sailed by a local. She had paid a hefty sum for him to stay and wait for her. He said he'd give her three hours before he went back to the mainland. He cited the waters were awful at night, and that sometimes weird things would come out of the water. Mary didn't want to stay long enough to figure what those were, so she had to solve this case in three hours or risk staying here overnight.

“Sure.” Saori nodded her head and pulled Yumemi, who had been blocking the entrance with her body, backwards. Mary stepped in, wiping her boots on the welcome mat and closed the door behind her. It was warmer in the mansion and she took off her coat and hung it up on the hook.

Underneath she wore a tan and thick turtleneck, tight fitted black jeans, and a utility belt with handcuffs, a baton and a flashlight. Out of the pockets of her trenchcoat she pulled out a notebook and pencil.

“Take me to the body. Then, round up everyone in the living room. I'll need to interrogate all of you.”

Saori nodded her head once more. At least Mary knew she could count on Saori to be cooperative. She knew that most likely the others wouldn't be.

“Call everyone into the living room,” Saori told Yumemi, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek when she saw how Yumemi had petulantly crossed her arms over her chest in opposition to helping Mary. The kiss softened her.

“Fine,” she said flatly, boring holes into the back of Mary's head as Mary walked off. Saori followed after.

The mansion was huge, and old. It smelled of wood and paper and something vaguely smoke like. Halloween decorations were strung up. Bats hung from the ceiling, spiderwebs covered the corners and black and orange balloons were tied to chairs. There were the remnants of chips, pretzels, candy, soda and pizza on the table, all turned cold by now. And was that caviar? Who had caviar at a Halloween party?

The mansion seemed empty, but Mary knew it was anything but. Her footsteps made the floorboards creak and groan. “How has life after graduation treated you, Saotome-san?” Saori asked to break the ice between them. Mary couldn't care less for small talk now, but she still answered.

“Good. Working my way up the career ladder.”

“I've seen your exploits in the papers. Your fight for justice, your unwavering drive to throw yourself into danger to do what is right,” Saori said and Mary hummed to it. They walked down the long winding hallways in silence, before Saori couldn't stand the awkwardness between them. “It was a bit....surprising to hear you went into police work. I'm glad it worked out.”

“Why?” Mary couldn't hide the bite to her words.

Saori tensed at this, realizing she had said something touchy. “It's just....you were very...”

“Hot headed? Rude? Cruel?” Mary filled in. She stopped to turn and stare at Saori who had the decency to bow her head in shame. “I know I was that, but wouldn't you be angry too? Our high school was a shit show. Run by that insane woman. I made it out alive and made something of myself when so many couldn't. Still, some scars remain.”

Saori gave a solemn nod. “I understand.”

Saori had never had to resort to those gambles, so she'd never had to deal with all those unpleasant side effects. Yumemi kept her safe; took the brunt of such falls.

“People change,” Mary added on. “Just as Yumemi has, and after all that you're still with her.” A feeler, to see if she could worm some information out of Saori. A possible motive for the case.

Saori's face tightened. Now it was Mary who had hit a sensitive spot. “She's been through a lot. In high school I built her up to be a star, but she had to take gambles and risks that I didn't even know about because she wanted me to be safe. Years and years of doing that can take a toll on someone, as you've pointed out.”

Mary took a step forward, careful not to come off as threatening. She was still working on keeping calm body language when irritated. “Then why come back here? Why come to a party hosted by a woman who orchestrated almost every single reason for our suffering in high school and now?”

Saori looked away at this. She clearly wanted to say something: pursing her lips, fidgeting with her hands. “The body's in the next room over,” she finished on and Mary held in an irritated sigh. She stepped into the room.

The body was covered with a white cloth. Mary pulled it back, Saori turning away from the image. Midari greeted Mary. The blonde tsked and pulled her long blond hair into a ponytail so it wouldn't get in her way. She crouched down next to Midari, taking stock of her.

The woman's hair was still in it's chaotic bob, slicked on one side where there was blood. Blunt force trauma. Her tongue was lolled open, an ecstatic look of pleasure on her face. A few drops of blood were on her clothing- a maid outfit which must be her Halloween costume. It was very...revealing. So Mary covered up her form once more. She'd known even in high school that Midari had an unhealthy obsession with death. Not that the girl made much of a secret of it. She lugged around a gun and played Russian Roulette after all.

She'd finally made good on her desire. But murder was illegal, consented or not. And Mary had a murderer to catch.

“I need information about the party. What can you tell me?” Mary asked, stepping out of the room and closing the door behind her.

Saori cleared her throat. “Well, we all received invitations to come here, about three months ago. Kirari was organizing it, said she wanted to catch up with us since it had been years since we'd last seen each other. So we agreed to come-”

“Why did you agree to come?” Mary pressed, turning her serious amber gaze on Saori. “I asked you before and you didn't answer me. I need to know otherwise I can't clear you as a suspect in Midari's murder.”

Saori grew stressed at this. “I didn't do it! And neither did Yumemi!”

“Then tell me why,” Mary insisted, taking out her pan and pad to take notes.

“It was because of me.”

Both women turned to see Yumemi had come to fetch them. Her hands were on her hips, fierce look diminished by the fact she was wearing a what was meant to be sexy, one piece leather cat costume.

“I come to fetch my girlfriend and I see you harassing her,” Yumemi said, striding closer without wobbling in her platform shoes.

“It's called interrogating. Some of us actually have to work for a living,” Mary said dryly.

“I worked my ass off to be famous! Hours of dancing and singing till my body was sore and bleeding and-” Yumemi cut herself off, biting the inside of her cheek.

“And all of that for nothing. It all fell apart,” Mary input.

“We came here, because of me,” Yumemi continued, bitterness seeping into her voice. “I fucked up big time. And it hurt Saori. So when Kirari sent the invitation, I thought, why the fuck not? She promised that she could fix it all for me, if we took part in her gamble.”

Mary felt a cold bolt of dread go through her.

Of course. Of fucking course there had been a gamble. And Kirari had been behind all of it. The bitch always did go too far. Mary wasn't going to let her walk away from this.

“And what was the gamble?”

“I....we don't actually know,” Yumemi admitted. “We came here at 12pm, dressed up in costumes. We talked, catching up with each other, eating and drinking.. Then at 5pm, Midari was dead.”

“Who found the body?” Mary asked as Saori came up to Yumemi to rub her arm supportively.

“Ririka did.”

Mary gulped. So, Ririka was here too?

It had been years since....

Could Mary even face her after everything?

“Alright, I think it's time I talked to everyone else,” Mary said and the trio walked back to the living room.

The living room was spacious, with enough couches and armchairs to fit everyone into the room accordingly. Seeing Yumemi and Saori had been a bad enough blast to the past. But all those familiar faces in one room...

Mary's hands began to sweat as she took her spot in front of the unlit fireplace.

Everyone was still in costume, sitting soberly on the couches. Itsuki, wearing a toga, was clinging onto Kaede, who wore a matching toga. Her long nails, manicured well as always, were on his arm so tightly his circulation was being cut off but he could barely notice. He had his glasses off in his other hand and his hair, which had been dyed back to black, was turning white from stress again.

Next to them Yuriko, wearing an Omi costume. Despite the green make up on her face, she seemed pale. She was curled in on herself, looking down at the hands on her lap. Next to her, sat Runa. She twirled the stem of a lollipop in her hand but did not eat it. Her rabbit costume's ear flopped downwards and she sniffled.

On the other couch sat Ryota. He was rubbing his hands onto his pants, breathing nervously and heavily. He had dressed up as Einstein for today but his wig was askew and his mustache was hanging off from one end.

Yumeko sat next to him, face perfectly neutral. She had dressed up as a witch today, long black hair under her pointed hat, wand held on her lap. By Yumeko's side, Sayaka sat, hands twitching, eyes downcast. Her one sided ponytail had been ditched in favor of wearing her purple hair long and loose. She was wearing an angel outfit though her halo had been ditched.

And by her side, sat Kirari.

The only one who didn't seem an inch remorseful over what had happened. She sat relaxed, one corner of her lip quirked up as she took in everyone's attitudes. The massive horns on her head matched her right now. Once a demon, always a demon.

Saori and Yumemi stood by the wall as Mary cleared her throat and spoke. “We're missing one.”

“Ririka's not feeling well. I'm sure you can understand why,” Kirari said and Mary glared at her out of the corner of her eye.

Ririka was missing, for which Mary could breathe out in relief. One less person to deal with. For now.

“There's been a murder,” Mary announced and Ryota gripped his knees hard. “Which means the murderer must be in this house. I don't know who it is yet, but I intend to find out.”

“Isn't it obvious?” Kirari drawled, almost bored sounding. “Midari always had a death wish. How easy would it have been for her to kill herself?”

“She has blunt force trauma, the kind that is given when the victim is hit and then hit many more times after they're already down. If she intended to kill herself, there are more convenient methods.”

“She was a masochist,” Kirari pointed out. “She would have gotten off on that.”

Mary put her hands on her hips. “Didn't she want you to kill her?” Mary accused Kirari.

Kirari was not phased by the question. “Yes, but why would I ruin a perfectly good evening with my fiance to do that?” Here she squeezed Sayaka's hand as it trembled. “Besides, that was something I said years ago.”

“You have it on contract, legally binding.” Everyone in the school had known about it, because Midari had bragged about how she had the privilege of being murdered by the school council president.

“I made that when I was young and in high school. A minor's word has no bearing as it cannot be legally binding.”

“Maybe, but not if you're a Momobami.”

“Hey, back off of her,” Sayaka growled out, getting up. “Or I'll have you removed.”

“Sayaka, stop,” Kirari pulled her back by the elbow to sit Sayaka back down next to her. “It's okay.”

“This happen often?” Mary hummed. “She get defensive like this? To the point of harm? To the point of maybe harming Midari if Midari got too close to you?”

Now it was Kirari's turn to be upset. “I ask you to refrain from implicating Sayaka in this. Midari was her friend. She was all of our friends.”

Somehow Mary highly doubted that, especially with Yumeko.

“All of you are implicated in this, and guilty. Especially because you called them here for a gamble. What was the gamble Kirari?” Mary almost sneered.

“You will speak to Kirari with respect!” Sayaka piped up again only for Kirari to shush her once more.

“I don't need to be respectful with a criminal,” Mary said.

“I was going to....how should I say it, offer a devil's contract to anyone who won my gamble,” Kirari admitted, looking so poised and at ease even as suspect number one. “A little play on words, but it was a true sentiment. You can blame Sayaka, the angel on my shoulder, for this,” here she threw the sappiest gaze that Mary had ever seen on the purple haired girl who turned into a beet at the open declaration. “I was a brat in high school. I truly was. I didn't know better, being a product of my upbringing and the expectations of the clan. So this was my humble extension to invite those closest to me who I had hurt. I was going to have a game night: jenga, twister, cards against humanity. Winners would get to make demands of me in recompense for what I had done. That was the gamble. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“That's a whole load of horseshit,” Mary spat.

Sayaka's eyes blazed with fury but again Kirari's hand on her held her back from rising up or speaking.

“You said it yourself, Mary,” Saori said, surprisingly coming to Kirari's defense. “People change.”

“Not her. She's not human!” Mary threw out an arm at Kirari.

Kirari was not offended by this.

“I should call the police department. Let them know they've sent a biased cop to solve this case,” Sayaka said, voice low.

“No, let her stay dear,” Kirari patted Sayaka's thigh. “I have nothing to hide.”

“We'll see about that,” Mary grumbled. “I'm going to take you all into a separate room and question you. And if any of you move from here, I'm going to hold you in violation of my orders and you'll go to a holding cell back on the mainland.”

“Kinky,” Yumeko giggled under her breath.

“Um, what if I have to use the bathroom?” Ryota raised a shaky hand.

Mary rolled her eyes. “Just hold it in like a big boy.”

Ryota lowered his hand and Yumeko whispered something into his ear.

“You,” she pointed at Saori. “You're up first.” Mary would love to interrogate Kirari first, but doing so would take up too much time. So, she'd get the easy ones out of the way first.

Since she'd talked to Saori beforehand the conversation wasn't long. She asked for Saori's account of going to the party, of any possible suspected motive and then sent her free. Yumemi was next, and her account lined up with Saori.

Runa went up next.

“Was there anything strange or out of the ordinary that you saw happening today at the party?” Mary questioned.

The short girl twiddled the lollipop between her fingers. “We're all weird, if you haven't noticed. There's too many things that could go into that category.”

Mary exhaled through her nose. “Anything off about Midari then?”

Runa gave Mary a look. “That's a very loaded question.”

“Was she acting nervous? Did she get into a fight with anyone?”

Runa laced her hands behind her head. “She was following Yumeko around, begging her for a gamble. Yumeko got pissed and they ended up arguing for a bit. I didn't hear what was being said because I was more focused on my candy. And then Yumeko came back without Midari later on. She looked happy.”

Yumeko was being suspicious. Good to know. Mary scribbled it down.

“Where were you between the hours of three and five pm?” Mary asked. She'd estimated by the fresh state of Midari's body, that the act had to be committed then.

“Passed out from a sugar coma. I was asleep on the kitchen floor under the table when I was woken up by a loud ruckus. I got up and saw everyone standing around. Ririka was crying, explaining what had just happened.”

Ririka...poor Ririka had to see all that...

“That's when we decided to call the cops to help us solve this. Who do you think it could be?”

“I can't tell you that,” Mary said. “But why don't you tell me why you came here, Runa. Why would you want to gamble with Kirari?”

“Gamble with her?” Runa waved it off. “I came here to do a favor for her, by proctoring one last game. To make sure things were neutral.”

“I see, thank you.”

After Runa, Yuriko filled in. She sat down heavily in the armchair in the small study. She looked nervous.

“Yuriko did you see anything?” Mary asked right away.

“I didn't see anything. I literally am legally blind,” Yuriko expressed.

Mary heaved out a heavy sigh. Oh boy. There went one of her witnesses. “Did you hear anything then?”

Yuriko slowly nodded her head. “Midari and Yumeko had an argument. After they did, Yumeko came back to the party but Midari didn't. Ririka went to go find her because we wanted to start our games and that's when she came back, crying, because well...” Yuriko trailed off, squirming in her seat. “Do you think the killer will strike again?” Her voice was small.

“It's a possibility,” Mary said. “Which is why all of you should stay in that room until I figure out what happened. And one last question for you. Why did you come here? Why did you need to take part in Kirari's gambles?”

“I.....I ran out of money,” Yuriko explained hesitantly.

“Tell me more,” Mary pressed.

Yuriko very clearly did not want to answer this but she did. “I was blackmailed. Said if I didn't give this person money, they would expose me.”

“Expose you for what?” Yuriko was prim and proper. Sure, she may be a cheat during gambling, but only so that she could support others. Other than that, what could she have done?

“....I made a sex tape.”

Mary almost didn't hear. “A what?”

“A sex tape,” Yuriko said a bit louder.

Mary's jaw gaped open. Yuriko, doing a sex tape? “Huh?” She could not imagine the girl doing such lewd things.

Yuriko's face was red. “It was a Shogen era themed one. All I did was narrate it, because I wanted to make sure if they were going to do one that the historical facts would be accurate. And...also because I lost a bet with Midari and she made me do it.” Yuriko's fists clenched angrily here. “If anyone were to find out that a museum curator of one of the most prominent and important exhibits in Japanese culture had a part in a sex tape, no matter how small and non-sexual, then it could ruin me!”

Mary hastily scribbled this all down.

“This is confidential right?” Yuriko poised when she heard Mary's furious note taking.

“Yes. Nothing will go public.”

“Good.” Yuriko's voice wavered, and she seemed close to tears. She valiantly held back from crying.

“Do you know who the blackmailer was?”

A long pause, Yuriko conflicted on how to answer this.

“Yuriko, you need to tell me.” Mary leaned forward across the desk.

“It was Midari,” she said at last, quite knowing how guilty she sounded because she added, “but I wouldn't kill her over something like this! I would have kept paying her money.”

“Why didn't you go to the police?”

“How could I tell them the truth?”

“Why did Midari extort money from you?”

“She'd fallen on some rough times. It was why she came here, to get some money too from Kirari. She picked up some nasty addictions, joined up with a bad crowd. It took it's toll on her.”

So, there were three possible suspects with motive right now. Kirari, because she was Kirari and made that promise all those years ago. Yumeko because she'd argued with Midari. And Yuriko because she was being blackmailed by Midari.

Itsuki was next, though Mary suspected she wouldn't get any good information out of her. Her air headed nature had not changed in all the years they'd been apart.

“Mary, it's been so long,” she said, tapping her manicured nails on the lacquer desk.

“Not long enough,” Mary grumbled though with light affection. “Still a rich bitch?”

“The richest. And the bitchest,” Itsuki said proudly.

“Tell me, did you see anything suspicious tonight? Anyone acting off?”

“Well, I don't think the sculpture in the front room is a real Michelangelo, but that's not what you meant.”

“No, I did not.”

She nodded her head, trying to be serious. “Kaede has been off all day long.”

“How so?”

Itsuki heaved out a dramatic sigh and threw an arm over her head. “He's spent all evening in his room, reading his stupid math books. And here I came, with everything shaved, with my sexiest underwear so we could spend some quality time together and he ignores me,” Itsuki said, crossing her arms angrily.

Mary did not need to know about their sex life- or lack of one.

“What did you do all evening long?”

“We greeted everyone, caught up on things, had some food. Then Kaede excused himself and went to his room. I followed after him, like the loving and concerned wife I am, and found him quickly trying to hide something in his room. Then he started reading his math books and droning on about statistics knowing it would bore me to death and hoping it would chase me out. I was about to pass out when we heard the commotion and came rushing out.”

Hm, so Kaede had something to hide. Mary put it down in her notes.

She called him in next.

“Kaede, mind explaining to me why you were holed up in your room all evening long?” Mary decided to get right to it. The man stiffened up and shifted his eyes.

“I was catching up on some light reading.”

“Reading. During a get together,” Mary hummed.

“Why not? I take my job seriously.”

“Then you don't mind showing me what it was you were hiding.”

“Hiding. I wasn't hiding a thing!” he proclaimed.

“Itsuki said you were being shifty. I have reason to follow up on that since this is a murder investigation.”

Kaede cursed under his breath. “That stupid woman...”

“Take me to your room,” Mary stood up, dangling handcuffs in warning. He got the message because he stood up and lead her to his room. He was unhappy about it the whole time, muttering under his breath. Mary followed a few paces behind, watching so he wouldn't run from her. When he got there he paused before the door.

“That's odd...the doorknob is broken.”

Mary elbowed him aside to get a better look. He was right. It looked like someone had violently torn his door knob open and the door was cracked open.

“I locked this room before I left because I have valuables inside,” he mussed, alarmed by this. He stepped inside, scanning the room to see if anything had been taken. Everything seemed to be in place.

“Are you sure you didn't do that to the door?” Mary poised, hands in her pockets.

He sputtered. “Why would I do such a thing! I'm not the type to do physical work like that.”

He was right. He wasn't the type to use his strength to do something. He much preferred using his intellect. But as this evening showed, some people changed and it maybe he had too; it wouldn't be too far fetched to believe he would cover up. “Show me the item.”

He gave her a sour look. “Like I said, I have nothing to hide.”

“Then prove it to me by showing me it,” Mary shot back.

He relented, taking out a box from under the bed. “This was going to be an anniversary gift for Itsuki. I was acting suspicious because I was trying to keep it hidden from her. Don't tell her what it is.”

Mary took the pink box and opened it. What she saw inside made her skin crawl. “What is this supposed to be?”

“A....a strap,” he mumbled, fixing his glasses, cheeks turning red. “For her to....to peg me. It was going to be a special anniversary thing.” He could not meet Mary's eyes as she said this. She cringed. She was finding out entirely too much about her classmates sexual lives. What she wouldn't do to never know this information again.

“Okay, I'm guessing this isn't the strap then,” Mary said, turning the box to face him. When he saw what was inside, his jaw slackened.

“I-I didn't....that's not-!” he sputtered.

Inside the box where the strap should be was a heavy, silver and ornate, bloodied candlestick. Just the sort of weapon to cause blunt trauma.

“Kaede Manyunda, I'm going to have to cuff you.”

“He didn't do it!” Itsuki cried out as Mary sat a handcuffed Kaede back into the living room. Everyone's gaze followed his shameful parade in. Kirari didn't bother to smother a smirk, Sayaka creased her forehead in worry, Ryota gasped while Yumeko put a hand to her mouth to hide either an amused look or a look of worry. Runa and Yuriko didn't say anything, just watching with interest, while Itsuki's jaw dropped open as Mary sat Kaede down. She cuffed one wrist, and then the other cuff to the radiator so he wouldn't run.

“He had the murder weapon,” Mary said, leaning away from Itsuki's flailing hands.

“I was framed!” he decried. “My room was broken into. You saw it!”

“I did. But I don't know if you did it, or if the murderer did. Because if they did and tried to frame you, it's kinda sloppy and obvious,” she explained. “Until then, you are staying like this, and I need to finish interrogating everyone.”

“You're being unfair!” Itsuki continued to defend.

“Tell that to the jury,” Mary said flatly before her gaze landed on her next suspect. “Ryota!” she barked out. He jerked to attention, face going pale. Yumeko placed a soothing hand on his shoulder before she leaned in and whispered something into his ear. It was brief, but Mary narrowed her eyes at it.

“Mind sharing with the group what's so secretive?” Mary said, feeling like a teacher scolding pre-school students.

Yumeko looked at Mary, offering her a mysterious smile. “Ryota just has something to tell you. I told him he should, no matter how scarring the information might be.”

Collective gasps came from the group. Had Ryota seen something incriminating?

“Maybe he jimmied my door open!” Kaede accused with a shaking finger pointed at Ryota.

“Yea!” Itsuki threw her support behind her husband despite his insubstantial claims. Before Ryota could stammer out a response in the negative, Mary put her hands up, getting in between both parties.

“I'm the only one making accusations here,” she reminded. “Ryota, come on. We've got some talking to do.” Ryota gulped and followed after Mary while Itsuki huffed and looked down at Kaede who seemed very uncomfortable against the radiator.

“Alright, Ryota, spit it out,” Mary said as he sat down in the chair in front of the desk, Mary slapping her hands against it. He flinched, sinking in one himself. Ten years later and he still had a partial fear of her. She didn't blame him.

“I-I didn't break Kaede's door!”

“Did you see anyone who could have?”

Ryota shook his head. “I didn't. I also don't know anything about who killed Midari.” His expression became sad at this. “Is she really- did someone actually-” he could not finish his sentiment. He swallowed heavily and Mary sighed and leaned back.

“Yes.”

“How could someone do something to her like that?” Ryota's fists curled up.

“That's what I'm trying to figure out. Which is why I need you to be truthful with me,” she said more softly. “Did you see anything concerning? Anything suspicious?”

He shook his head. “I was busy eating and talking to everyone in the beginning. I was by Yumeko's side, and then I left.”

“Where did you go?”

At this Ryota turned a bright red. Mary narrowed her eyes. “What was Yumeko talking about when she said you had something to share?”

“I...um,” he cleared his throat. “I wasn't around in the party for long.”

“And where were you?”

“B-bathroom,” Ryota sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

“The whole evening?”

“I um, the caviar- it gave me bad diarrhea,” he said in a low whisper. Mary let out a long drawn out sigh. Seriously? Was she never going to make any progress on this case? It should be open and shut. She wanted to be home already.

“Is there anyway to prove your alibi?”

“You could...see the bathroom?” he suggested awkwardly.

She waved a hand, done with him. “Call in Yumeko next.” He happily lept up to go do as asked, eager to be out of Mary's scrutiny.

Yumeko came in a few moment's later, taking her seat in front of Mary. “It's been years, Mary-san,” she said with a small smile.

“It has,” Mary said shortly, not sure what else to say to Yumeko. They had been gambling partners years ago, taking the school by storm, trying to topple Kirari. But with distance their contact had faded until it was nothing but a past memory. Mary could take a wild guess that Yumeko was still addicted to gambling, which would split Mary's theories on what motivation Yumeko had. Yumeko would hate for gambles to be canceled, but she also hated Midari. The only questions was, did she hate Midari enough to outweigh satisfying her gambling addiction?

“Now,” Mary leaned in on the desk, amber eyes steady on the red ones of her old friend. “Why did you do it?”

“Opening the gambit like that?” Yumeko giggled lightly. “Don't you want to catch up?”

“This is a murder investigation,” Mary said pointedly. “Answer my question.”

Yumeko's expression fell. “I was avoiding Midari the whole night.”

“And yet, she was somehow by your side.”

“Hm, she was.”

“I have reports saying she stalked you,” Mary said. “You had a restraining order against her twice.”

“She did stalk me,” Yumeko said. “After she graduated, she used to come back to the school under the guise of gambling. When I graduated she would drop by my work location, would visit me when I went to the gym. I had a restraining order put on her. It worked, and then she eventually moved on after a couple of years. She hasn't bothered me in a while.”

“She used to stalk you, and yet you still came to this party?”

“I wanted to gamble Kirari. Shame I can't do that anymore.”

Mary slapped her hand against the table. “A woman is dead and all you care about is gambling? Maybe you're the killer!”

“Oh, wouldn't that be exciting!” Yumeko cried out, eyes flashing red. “Let's detective our hearts out until we go mad to this craze!”

Mary shivered and backed away. She wasn't going to get any easy answers out of Yumeko. She would have to entice them out by gambling, and Mary hadn't touched a playing card in over ten years. Too many memories, too many emotions linked to all that.

“Bring Sayaka in next,” Mary said with a soft sigh.

Yumeko bounced up from her seat. “Always nice to speak with you Mary. Don't be a stranger.” And then she whirled out of the room.

Sayaka, did not come alone.

“What are you doing here?” Mary sneered, not bothering to hide her disgust.

Grandly, Kirari placed a hand to her chest. “I'm here to ensure your safety.”

“My safety?” Mary arched a brow as Sayaka angrily took the chair, Kirari standing by her side.

“Yes, Sayaka is quite upset with how you've been treating all of us. And given your less than pleasant attitude, no doubt you'll say something that might inspire her into calling your supervisor.”

“Uh huh,” Mary said, crossing her arms over her chest. She scanned Sayaka's form, finding the violet haired girl staring back at her. They'd never really gotten along. It was a shame, because they were both smart and hard working. But Mary could not stomach the way Sayaka devoted all that not to herself, but to Kirari. And Sayaka didn't like Mary's bluntness.

As she finished her scan, she found something interesting. Her lip corner curled up as the neck of Sayaka's costume failed to hide something.

“I can see your neck is bruised. Signs of struggle?” Mary pressed. Sayaka turned bright red. Ah, she had her!

“No, those are hickeys,” Kirari said conversationally. “We were busy fuckin-”

“Kirari!” Sayaka squeaked out, bright red.

Mary tried not to gag. What was it with today and finding out way too much about people's bedroom habits?

“But it's the truth. We have an alibi,” Kirari said. “We were quite busy with each other during the time that Midari might have been murdered. Is that enough to answer your quagmire, Mary?”

God, how Mary would have liked to knock the smug expression off of Kirari's face.

“You two could be covering for each other. I'd need a third party to confirm-”

“I have a video,” Kirari said with a smile. Sayaka stiffened up next to her.

“You were recording this one?”

“How can I not? Does a person not buy a piece of art, in order to have it for their viewing pleasure whenever they want? The same with this. You are art and I wish to have you for my viewing pleasure in each-”

“Okay!” Mary said loudly. “I don't have time for your flirting.”

“Would you like to access the video?” Kirari asked, way too smug about all of this. As if trying to shove it into Mary's face just how much she loved Sayaka.

“Those are private!” Sayaka exclaimed as Kirari took visible delight in teasing Sayaka.

Mary felt her stomach churn. Disgusting. She did not want to see home made videos. But as a detective, if she wanted to solve this case...

She held out her hand reluctantly. Kirari chuckled. “I'm afraid I lied. I didn't record anything. But my, Mary, I didn't know you were so eager.”

Mary's teeth ground together as she retreated her hand. Damn Kirari and her snaked tongue. “I'm not eager. Lying is obstruction of justice, Kirari. You don't seem to be in any rush to solve who killed Midari, and you don't seem eager to disprove your status as suspect number one in this case.”

“She didn't do anything, neither did I,” Sayaka defended.

“Come, Mary, you and I both know you're more than capable of figuring out what happened to Midari without having to go through this whole show,” Kirari made a circular motion with her hand.

“For some of us, this is a job,” Mary said through tight teeth.

Kirari hummed. “You'll find that you're the only one who thinks that way.”

Mary tightened her jaw. She was going to need to cool her head before she could finish interrogating Kirari and Sayaka. “Just get out,” she said, in a barely civil tone.

Kirari reached for Sayaka's hand and tugged the two of them out of the room. Once they were gone, Mary stuffed her pad and pen into her back pocket and walked back to the room where Midari was. She needed to examine the place, get some extra clues. On the way there, she spotted a bathroom. She reached for the handle, wanting to test out Ryota's alibi. Mary opened the door and closed the bathroom door just as quickly. “He wasn't lying,” she pulled a face. The place was a mess.

Another image she wanted washed out of her brain.

Her feet eventually carried her to Ririka's bedroom. Ririka was the one who had seen the body. Mary would need to question her. The true question was if Mary would be able to stomach doing so.

Ririka...Mary hadn't seen her since high school.

Hadn't seen her since their break up.

A mutual one, but nevertheless heartbreaking. They had decided it would be for the best with Mary in the police academy and Ririka going on to inherit her families business as the eldest.

Raising her hand, she knocked softly on the door.

“Go away Rari,” Ririka's voice filtered in through the door.

“Um...it's not Kirari,” Mary said. There was a moment of silence and then the door was being yanked open. Ririka stood on the other end, eyes red at the rims. She sniffled.

“Mary?”

“The one and only,” Mary said sheepishly. They stared at each other, a long awkward silence stretching between them that had Mary's cheeks flaring up. So much past stretched out between them. Mary could vividly remember the first time they'd met, and the last time they'd met. If Ririka remembered any of that, she didn't indicated it.

“How...how are things?” Mary asked awkwardly.

“Well....you're here,” Ririka grumbled, eyes shifting to the pinned police badge on Mary's chest. “And you're investigating Midari's death.”

“Murder,” Mary couldn't help from correcting. “And I have some questions for you.”

Ririka let out a soft sigh. “Come in then.”

Mary entered the room, resisting the urge to pull on her turtleneck. She was starting to sweat with nerves. She pulled out her pad and pen. “You were the first person who found the body?”

Ririka nodded her head and sat down on the bed edge. She was partially in costume. It was a Squid game costume, with Ririka in a pink slim tracksuit and a mask with a square on it lying on the pillow. Her blue gaze on Mary was unnerving and Mary hastily looked down at her notepad in order to avoid that all too familiar look.

“When did you find the body?”

“I'm not sure. I didn't look at the clock when I found it. I screamed, and went to go find someone to help me.”

“Why were you in that area of the house?”

Ririka's eyes narrowed. “Are you implying that I did it?”

“No,” Mary shook her head furiously. “I just want to rule out all possibilities.”

“I was there to fetch Midari for our game night. We were going to start at five pm, so I suppose I found her body a little bit before five.”

“Was there anything odd you saw before you found Midari's body?”

“Other than my sister?” Ririka shook her head no. Mary couldn't stop a small snort from coming out at the mention of this. “Midari and Yumeko argued, but that's nothing unusual. Midari was being annoying to Yumeko. They went to talk about it in a separate room but only Yumeko came back. They weren't gone for long.”

“Did Yumeko have any blood on her?”

“No.”

Mary wrote this down. “Did Yumeko leave at any point in the night after her argument with Midari?”

“No, she was at the party. She never left once after that.”

Mary scowled. So, it seemed Yumeko might not be a suspect after all. If she had been, she would have been gone for longer to make sure she hid the murder weapon in Kaede's room. And if she had hid it, it couldn't have been until after the body was discovered because both Itsuki and Kaede were in the room until then. Unless of course the two of them were lying about being in the room and could have been the ones to hurt Midari. But what motive would they have had?

“Did Midari come back at all to the party after that conversation with Yumeko?”

“No, but we figured she was sulking so we left her be until it was time to gamble. I went to go fetch her and found her...” Ririka looked down at her hands.

“I'm sorry you had to see that,” Mary said, trying to comfort Ririka somehow.

Ririka shook her head. “It's fine.”

Mary could sense Ririka wanted to be left alone, but for safety reasons, it would not be a good idea. “I think you should go with everyone else. We don't know whose the killer yet, but I think it would be better if you stayed with everyone because it's harder for the killer to make a move if everyone else is watching.”

“Alright,” Ririka said, taking her mask and walking out the door. Mary stared longer at her back then she should have, before she left the room too and continued to where Midari lay. She opened the door, hand ready to go to her nose to cover the stench but when she entered, she found the sheet had been tossed aside.

Her eyes went wide.

The body! It wasn't there!

Had someone taken the body? Moved it somewhere else? But who and when? She knelt down on the ground, checking for traces that the body had been dragged somewhere, but nothing. Mary whirled on her heel and hurried back to the living room where everyone else was.

“Okay, which one of you fuckers moved the body!” Mary stormed in. Everyone's heads whipped to her.

“What are you talking about?” Yuriko asked.

“The body, it's gone!” Mary cried out.

A gasp from Runa and Ririka, everyone else turning suspicious gazes on each other.

“Who left the room?” Mary demanded, hands on hips.

“The only time someone left the room was to be interrogated by you,” Sayaka explained. “And you escorted us back and forth from the rooms. No one left during the other times.”

“You're lying,” Mary bristled. “Someone had to-” she cut herself off when Itsuki let out a shriek and pointed to the top of the stairs in the living room. Mary followed her gaze.

Smoke began to curl from the top of the stairs as cheap Halloween music sound effects resounded from there. This drew the attention of all the guests. One by one they got up and stood at the bottom of the stairs, observing what was happening.

Mary's fingers curled around her baton handle, hoping it would be enough to deal with whatever bullshit came next.

A figure in all black arrived on top of the stairs. Dramatically, it flung the cloak off of itself, music dying down.

Midari stood on top of the stairs, arms held out. “Ta-dah! I'm not actually dead. Happy Halloween, fuckers!”

“A ghost,” Yuriko murmured before fainting. Kaede caught her in his arms before she hit the floor. Ryota similarly seemed unsteady on his feet and Yumeko wrapped her arms around his waist to support him.

Runa let out a relieved laugh. “You asshole!”

“You should have seen the looks on your faces!” Midari cackled as Kirari let out a pleased hum as if she had been expecting this to be the case the whole time.

“You made us stressed for no reason!” Itsuki cried out. “I ruined my manicure over you!”

“I can't fucking believe I got called in here, for a fake fucking case,” Mary grumbled under her breath.

“I'm going to murder you for real!” Sayaka promised and Mary was inclined to help.

And then the lights went out. Exclaimed cries of shock came from everyone.

“Again Midari?” Yumemi growled out. “We're tired of your shit already.”

“Someone get the lights,” Runa said.

“I can go check the fuse box,” Kirari offered calmly.

“I have a flashlight,” Mary said, fumbling with her utility belt. Before she could get it, the lights turned back on. Mary blinked in the sudden brightness. Midari was still standing on top of the stairs, arms held out.

“Midari, quit it already. It wasn't funny the first time, it isn't funny the second time,” Sayaka said.

Midari said nothing. A red gash appeared on her neck, before slowly her slide down and bounced down the stairs. It left a trail of blood before it rolled to a stop at Yuriko's foot. Poor Yuriko, who had just recovered from her first fainting spell, fainted again. Kaede caught her once more.

“M-midari?” Runa paled as Yumemi's hands went up to her mouth. Then the rest of Midari's body collapsed on top of the stairs, blood gushing from where her head should be.

Sayaka pulled out her taser, standing in front of Kirari protectively while Kirari tried to peer over her shoulder to see the body. Ririka looked like she would throw up, and Saori had buried her head into Yumemi's shoulder.

“Oh, this just got interesting,” Yumeko said, breezily. Ryota valiantly tried to cover her eyes and his own. Itsuki looked away. Mary strode forward, picking up Midari's head. “This isn't a nice prank, Midari,” she told the head. But it was awfully warm and heavy for something that should be a prop. Midari's mouth popped open and a note fell out.

Mary picked it up and unfurled it. It read, Let the Gamble Begin.

Mary stared down at the head, at the body, at the note. Oh shit. No, no this was all wrong. Midari was actually murdered this time.

“Kirari, explain this shit to me,” she said, breath trembling in her lungs.

Before Kirari could speak, a voice spoke. It seemed to be coming from everywhere, amplified by hidden mics. “So sorry I couldn't accept your invite, Kirari. But, given what I've done to the house, I wouldn't want to step foot into it. Not that I could even do that, but, I do hope you'll be able to enjoy it for me.” The voice was distorted but Kirari seemed to know who it was.

“Terano,” she said, voice neutral though her eyes burned with hatred. “All this for me? How kind.”

“No, not just for you. For those who had stood by your side as pawns and tore down the clan. For Yumemi who infiltrated our pop industry and exposed the sex ring there. Saori- you had nothing to do with this, but nevertheless by loving her you have brought this upon yourself. For Yuriko, who took back what priceless artifacts we had stolen for the black market. For Kaede who ruined our finances from the inside, and for Itsuki who helped fund this. For Yumeko who stood idly by and encouraged the destruction of our family. For Ryota who loved her. For Sayaka who helped carry out the twin's plans. And for Ririka and Kirari, who orchestrated the entire system demise.

“I'm only sorry to Mary, who had the common sense to move away from her past and try to forge her own future. I didn't wish for you to get wrapped up in this, but Midari's silly little prank got in the way of many things.”

“I should have killed you when I had the chance,” Kirari promised, tone so calm it was more terrifying than if she'd yelled. Because this was a woman who already had a plan on how to do so.

“If you can survive this. The place was looking a bit run down, so I add some renovations. Hope you enjoy them.” Then the voice clicked off and the long carpet they had been standing on, covered up the trap door. The ground opened up under their feet and they all fell down.

Mary's eyes slowly cracked open and she sat up. She didn't feel any pain or anything broken, so she must be alright. Alright, except for the empty small gray room she was locked into. She stood up, finding her utility belt gone as well as her notepad.

She didn't have to try the door handle to know she was stuck here, but she did anyways. When she did, the flat screen TV above the door flickered to life. Terano's serious face greeted Mary. Before Mary could even bark out threats, or shake a threatening fist at Terano, the woman spoke.

“Mary, I know you have nothing to do with this, so, I'm going to let you go as an act of mercy.”

The big metal doors swished open, leaving Mary slightly flabbergasted. It was that easy?

“Go on, live your life. Forget what has happened here,” Terano said. She looked down at Mary. The background in the video was nondescript. A simple black background, with no sound. There was no telling where Terano was filming this from. “Let me carry out my justice.”

Mary let out a harsh bark of laughter as she strode up to the screen. She was pissed. She was super fucking pissed.

Jabbing a finger up at the screen, she declared, “fuck you and your fucking sense of justice. I'm not going to walk away from this. You should know that about me. I don't let others tell me what to do.” Mary might not care for Kirari, but she cared for Ririka, and she wasn't going to let Terano act out her Saw style brand of justice.

Terano let out a heavy sigh. “I had a feeling you would say this. Gentlemen, please help Mary here see the error of her ways.”

From the open doorway two hulking men stepped in. They were both bald and wearing black clothing. One of them cracked his knuckles as the other one chuckled. “We're going to have so much fun with you girlie.”

The TV switched off and Mary gulped. What had she gotten herself into now?

Kirari was disappointed. Not that she was trapped, or forced to play a possible death game orchestrated by a woman who truly hated her, but by the fact she was wearing a maid costume and Sayaka wasn't around to see her in it. If Sayaka saw it, she would flip her shit. And Kirari would very much like Sayaka to flip her shit as well.

Numerous times.

Alas, it would have to wait for later.

Terano was droning on about the rules of the life or death game they had been planted into the renovated basement. Kirari did find the architecture and attention to detail of the rooms from the board game admirable; however she felt the game would be terribly boring.

“We have to work in pairs and which ever pair finds the most clues to incriminate another character first, wins and gets to live?” Yumemi was exclaiming to the Terano on the TV.

“Yes, just as in the game. Solve puzzles in the room to gather clues and escape the room. Once you are done with this room you have to navigate the hallways which are filled with hired goons, and find other evidence in the other rooms. Whoever is first to submit the person, the item, and the room, in which the murder occurred, gets to be set free and the accused person is killed.”

“A baby could win this game,” Kirari mumbled to herself, picking up hr feather duster and poising with it as she looked at herself in the mirror. Seductively she dragged it down the side of her face. Maybe Sayaka would like a pose like this-

“Kirari, are you even paying attention! Your serial killer cousin is telling us the rules and you're not even taking this seriously!” Yumemi berated.

“Why should I? When it's uninspiring,” she said, delighting when the Terano on the TV looked pissed off.

“We'll see about that, Kirari, when it's you who gets pined as the suspect,” and the TV flickered off.

Mary dodged the first punch sent at her, but she could not avoid the second punch sent her way. It collided sharply with her skull, making a piercing pain go through it. She fell down to the floor, bones jarring on impact.

With a gasp she sat up, not willing to give up the fight so easily. But as she blinked away the stars in her vision, she found that she was on the floor, next to a coffee table. Ririka was bending down next to her, while giggling came from behind Mary.

“Whu-” a very disorientated Mary managed to make out, as her head throbbed.

“Mary, are you alright? You hit the coffee table with your head pretty hard.” Ririka said with clear concern on her face. Mary glanced around, trying to make sense of what was happening. Kirari and Sayaka sat on the couch not too far away, laughing at Mary.

This version of them was young, Kirari wearing a demon costume with massive horns that she had wrapped her ribbons around, and with Sayaka in an angel costume next to her, halo wobbling with effort of stifling her amusement. Kirari wasn't as considerate and was letting Mary plainly know how she felt.

“Wait,” Mary frowned as Ririka helped her to her feet from the couch she had fallen off of. She looked at the TV screen where the end credits of the Clue movie were playing. There were Halloween snacks on the table, with black and orange caviar there. “It was all a dream?” she asked, rubbing her head.

“Yes, you fell asleep,” Ririka said. “What did you dream about? You seemed very stressed out.”

Mary looked at Ririka's Squid Game costume, and at her own detective outfit. She everything had been a dream. She let out a relieved laugh. “Nothing, nothing much. How about we finish our double date night Halloween movie marathon.”

Ririka smiled at her, lacing her fingers with Mary's and sitting them both on the couch. “Of course.”

Kirari had gotten up to switch the movies. “Try not to fall asleep during this one,” she teased.

Mary rolled her eyes. Though Kirari was annoying, and Mary had only agreed to this because Ririka wanted the two couples to get along better, for now Mary could stomach Kirari's antics because it meant Mary wasn't stuck in that stressful world she had dreamed of.

So, she settled in against Ririka's side as Chucky began to play.