Maidens of the Kaleidoscope

~Hakurei Shrine~ => Patchouli's Scarlet Library => Topic started by: FinnKaenbyou on October 22, 2009, 02:22:37 AM

Title: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: FinnKaenbyou on October 22, 2009, 02:22:37 AM: What happens when an ambitious Touhou fanfic writer gets hold of a few long-sought-after Agatha Christie novels?

He suddenly decides to try writing a Touhou crime fic.

For now, it's 3am, so enjoy this little taster before things properly start...

-----

Mornings. If there was anything that Detective Reimu Hakurei couldn't stand, it was mornings.

Why can't people wait until the afternoon to start killing each other? Seriously...

As she trudged along the footpath to the Scarlet Lake, Reimu rubbed her eyes lazily. She'd got a call from the Big Y telling her that some aristocrat around here had been done in the night before and she needed to get over there ASAP. Reimu's first response was to hang up and go back to sleep, but after the phone rang nonstop for fifteen minutes she took the hint and got herself up. Even now she was still sort of a state ? her long, brown hair hung down, her usual ribbon lying at home, forgotten. Given that the Gensokyo Police Department didn't have anything resembling a uniform, she typically simply wore her miko outfit on the job. No-one had had the nerve to call her out on it yet, and it wasn't like there were any other permanent employees who actually wore anything sensible.

Then again, there are the rookies...dammit, I can't believe I'm getting paired up...

She'd been told on the phone that a local member of the force would be assigned to her to help in the case. The GPD was a tiny force, so they pulled in nearby untrained members to help out in cases if necessary. Unfortunately, 'untrained' was typically a metaphor for 'braindead', and if anything these wannabes were more trouble than they were worth.

As she physically forced herself to keep walking, Reimu could make out the edge of the lake. A young girl sat beside the water, absent-mindedly looking at the island further in. The water ran against her bare feet, leaving damp marks on her pale blue dress. The girl's eyes lazily looked around and, on seeing Reimu, she hastily jumped to her feet and stood to attention.

?S-Sorry about that, ma'am, just taking a breather. R-Regional Detective Cirno reporting for duty, ma'am.?

Cirno saluted, fear rising in her blue eyes. Tossing aside a strand of her similarly coloured hair, the transparent wings on her back fluttered nervously. Reimu let out a heavy sigh.

And better still, she's a freaking youkai.

Reimu's opinion of Gensokyo's magical beings was...less than favourable, even though she was more or less the only human of note in the nation. She reluctantly followed Cirno over to the tiny rowboat the pair were using to cross the lake. The fairy, overcoming her initial nerves, seemed to get more excited with every step she took.

?I was really surprised when they called me, actually. I mean, this is a nice enough place, and someone got murdered? I couldn't believe it! And of all of the people it could've been, it ends up being the Scarlet Devil herself!?

?Scarlet...Devil??

Reimu wasn't very up-to-scratch when it came to Gensokyo's residents. She sat in the rowboat, letting Cirno do the manual labour to get them across the water. She was a youkai, after all ? she may as well make use of all that extra power she'd be given, and it wasn't like she had the brains to match.

?Yeah, Remilia Scarlet. A pretty big name around these parts. She's a vampire ? well, was a vampire, I guess ? and she lives in this really big mansion with like four other people. Everyone who lives 'round here's heard of her, and to be honest it scares most of us away. She's meant to be really, REALLY strong, and she eats people and sucks their blood and wears this big fancy cape and-?

Once Cirno had started talking, it seemed she wasn't very good at stopping. Reimu blocked her out mentally, looking behind her towards their destination. A small island came closer with every stroke from the fairy, and built there was an impressive manor that matched her boasts. Reimu already had a mental image of the sort of youkai who would live in a place like this ? some old hag with more money than humility, scaring people off with fancy decorations and bad rumours. Then again, she couldn't remember the last time she'd seen a youkai as more than bearable, so maybe she was the wrong person to judge.

?...and on full moons she grows thirty feet tall and steps on buildings and- oh, we're here.?

Cirno thankfully cut herself off as the boat arrived at the island. Reimu stepped off, unable to match her companion's enthusiasm for examining bloody murder. She was half tempted to just lie on the ground and take a nap right now, but duty called.

The Big Y had better pay me pretty damn well for this...

-----

Tomorrow will bring with it an update, most likely, along with some real plot. For now, this intro is about all I can produce tonight.
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Von Stein on October 22, 2009, 02:36:57 AM: Koa, with the Leavateinn, on the balcony.

/me looks forward to this.*
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Nimono on October 22, 2009, 04:04:06 AM: No way, I say it was Patchy, with the daggers-from-the-random-living?-spellbooks, in the overly-huge hallway! ...ahem. That was an interesting read. I especially liked the part right before Cirno stops talking, when she says that Remilia grows to 30 feet tall on a full moon and stomps buildings... Oh gosh, I can just imagine that already. XD I wonder what the next installment will bring? I actually happen to LOVE detective stories, especially all the suspense in figuring out who did what.

On a side note, I bet the "Big Y" is none other than Yukari. Either her, or Yuyuko or Youmu.
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Drake on October 22, 2009, 04:12:10 AM: it's yamame
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Nine West on October 22, 2009, 04:16:48 AM: Yumemi

Or, oh shit,
YuugenMagan.
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: FinnKaenbyou on October 22, 2009, 07:38:20 PM: Maybe it was the fact that she knew this place was the new home to a death, but for some reason Reimu couldn't be impressed by the mansion's scale in the slightest. The sunlight seemed to almost weaken the building, exposing it as a magnificent piece of architecture that was horrifically out of place. At night the inconsistencies might have gone unnoticed, but right now it looked like it simply didn't belong.

But what does a vampire care about how she looks during the day?

Cirno had already made her way into the building and back by the time Reimu had reached the doorway. She was wearing the stupid smile that seemed to be her neutral expression, the one that made Reimu want to punch her.

?Body's round the side, if you wanna look at it. Not really a pretty sight, though. I'm gonna go in and talk to some people...?

Reimu nodded, glad to get the fairy out of her hair for a few minutes. She walked next to the wall of the mansion, running a lazy hand along the wall as she approached the corner. She poked her head around it, looking for anything resembling a crime scene-

?Oh.?

Cirno's claim had been right ? the body was hardly in its best condition. A light red dress hung on the corpse, but Remilia herself had almost dried up to a husk. All the fluid in her body seemed to have been drained away, leaving a pale shell in its remains. Lesser humans would probably take this cue to be violently ill, but Reimu had enough experience in the area to respond with little more than a sigh.

Guess that rumour about vampires and sunlight was true, after all.

Coming closer to the body, Reimu looked up and noticed a balcony almost directly above Remilia's corpse. It seemed as though she'd fallen out, hit the ground hard, fallen unconscious and never made it back in before the sun rose. She wouldn't even have had time to react and use those wings of hers (now withered and pathetic-looking) to save herself from the fall. Of course, more likely was that she'd been shoved, but that meant more effort on Reimu's part so right now suicide seemed more likely to her.

Could be that simple. Last thing Y's gonna want is me hauling in an innocent...

The body was in too poor a state for Reimu to surmise anything further. She'd have to haul the body back and get the coroners to take a look at it. That'd be a job for Cirno ? she wasn't keen on this whole 'manual labour' thing, and the GPD hired her for her brain, not her muscles.

Making her way back around to the entrance, Reimu was somewhat unsurprised to see Cirno marching out, chest sticking out proudly, hauling a taller girl along by the arm.

?Case closed, ma'am! Here's our culprit right here!?

The girl being tugged along was dressed in one of those classic maid outfits, more proof that this place was totally not at home in Gensokyo. A pair of long, silver braids slid down the sides of her face, and her dark-blue eyes seemed focused entirely on the ground beneath her. Cirno was unaware of any of this.

?Her name's Sakuya Izayoi. Head maid here, and the only one who had a set of master keys on her person. Therefore, the only one who could've made it into Scarlet's room and shoved her off! Piece of cake!?

Sakuya seemed to grow more and more disgusted with every word Cirno spewed, her eyes growing misty and her expression more depressed. Was it anger at having been figured out, or grief at the death of her employer? Right now, Reimu wasn't sure.

?Okay, kiddo, hold your horses. We don't even know if this was a murder yet. And let go of her arm, it's turning blue.?

Cirno's mood sank hastily, letting go of Sakuya immediately and muttering to herself.

"...C'mon, it's always the butler that does it..."

She strolled away, leaving Reimu to talk with the apparent 'culprit'. Conversation wasn't exactly her strength, so she did her best to stick to the book.

Might as well see what I can get out of her for now.

?Miss Izayoi? I'm Detective Hakurei, G.P.D. Mind answering a few questions for me??

Sakuya looked up slightly. Apparently she was more comforting to the maid than Cirno had been, and she slowly nodded.

?...I'll offer what I can, but I'm afraid I can't help you much...?

Reimu sighed.

?Alright then. I'll start simple. When was the last time you saw Remi- I mean, your superior??

Sakuya took a few deep breaths before she started on a response.

?...Last night, around 7 or 8 in the evening. The entire mansion was present-?

?Wait, you all eat together??

?There are only six people living here, so it isn't that big a problem feeding everyone at once.?

Reimu vaguely remembered Cirno saying something along those lines. The maid paused for a moment, growing more teary.

?...Although...it's only five people now, isn't it??

She wept quietly.

Good job, Reimu. Way to remind her that her boss just died.

?W-Well...can you tell me what you were doing after dinner, then??

?Nothing. I felt ill after dinner, and excused myself to take an early night. I've no idea why, though...it was unbecoming of me, and it's never happened before. I thought that I could afford to take a break for one night...turned out to be foolish, didn't it??

Another weeping session, as Reimu's patience wore painfully thin. She had other people to talk to, crime scenes to investigate, and so on, but right now she didn't want to do any of that.

Screw it. I'm taking the body over to HQ. If it turns out this is all some tragic accident, I can leave this place as it is and get some goddamn sleep.

She cranked up her internal 'false gratitude' notch.

?...Alright. Miss Izayoi, you've been invaluable. I'm going to have to ask you to stay here for a while so I can...get some information.?

Reimu decided it'd be a good idea not to mention the body, in case it just gave the maid another reason to burst into tears. Sakuya nodded, still seemingly shaken.

?I'm sorry...it's just so sudden...I wouldn't have believed that-?

?Yeah, yeah. I'll probably end up taking your statement properly later. C'mon, rookie, we're moving out.?

Cirno, who'd been keen on helping out, had already taken hold of the body and started hauling it around. Pulling along Remilia's corpse, she waved cheerily at her superior.

?Sure! Just taking this back to base, right??

Sakuya's eyes bulged open as she saw what was trailing behind the fairy, and in an instant she'd rushed back into the mansion, most likely to be ill. Reimu felt a vein popping out of her forehead, walking up to the regional detective and slapping her hard.

?Idiot.?

Cirno rubbed her cheek, but Reimu hadn't managed to do any serious damage to the youkai. In fact, if anything, Reimu had probably hurt her hand worse in the process.

?S-Sorry. Anyway, I'll just fly over back to HQ, and-?

?Don't think I'm letting you do that alone.?

Cirno had already started flapping her wings, gaining a few feet in height. She looked down at the miko, irritated.

?What? You want to go use the boat and walk back? Sorry, I know you're my boss and all, but you're gonna just slow me do-?

Cirno cut her sentence short when she realised that Reimu was suddenly looking her in the eye. She was floating in the air without any apparent effort.

?...You can fly??

?Hey, if you want to be anybody in Gensokyo you have to be able to do something cool.?
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Von Stein on October 23, 2009, 03:55:17 AM: Always remember, it's never what it looks like, unless it doesn't look like it.

[make sense]

Geh, due to recent events Sakuya's reaction is rather well known to me. Well played there.
And nice character portrayals so far, keep it up. =3

[/make sense]
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: WRATHIE_Beatrice on October 23, 2009, 03:56:06 AM: AMUSE ME, ROU! I'll break your mysteries!

AND I'll SAY IT IN RED

I'm the detective!
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin on October 23, 2009, 04:57:15 AM: So, I guess location is limited to "on the balcony."

So ...
Sakuya, on the balcony, with
ZA WARUDO
.

Actually, I'm gonna guess it's
Flandre, on the balcony, with Lavatein.
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: FinnKaenbyou on October 24, 2009, 01:21:48 AM: ?Okay, explain to me exactly what you're doing back here, Detective.?

Reimu hadn't expected her boss to be pleased with her early return, but by now she expected her to be used to it. She sat back, totally relaxed, muttering her response.

?Just checking to see if we can confirm a suicide, that's all.?

From the other side of the desk, Shikieiki Yamaxanadu sighed. It was better than some of Reimu's earlier excuses ? she still remembered the time the miko had called in ill with 'alcoholitis' ? but it still made her wonder if the human was more trouble than she was worth.

?You realise the body's in no fit state for something like that.?

?I have faith in our team of coroners.?

?Faith has nothing to do with it,? Shikieiki said, nudging her hat to keep it upright. ?They've got a dried-up vampire husk to work with. They're talented, yes, but they're not miracle workers.?

Reimu didn't respond, lying back slightly in the seat. Shikieiki waited for an answer from her, staring at her with piercing blue eyes.

?...Zzz...?

Reimu's snoring was the first thing to give her away. The judge's hand instinctively began to move toward the ceremonial rod she kept on her desk. Gripping it professionally, she flung it straight at the sleeping Reimu, hitting her square in the forehead. The chair fell back along with her, the pair giving off a loud crash in unison.

?Ow...jeez, can't I at least get five minutes to take a break??

Shikieiki slipped off of her chair, stamping towards Reimu as she sat up. Even now, the yama was only able to meet with Reimu eye-to-eye ? she'd chosen the nickname of 'Big Y' for her mostly out of irony.

?Let me make this perfectly clear, Detective. You're going to go down to the morgue, and they're going to tell you that homicide is still a possibility. Then you're going to get your ass back down to the Scarlet Devil Mansion and figure out who did this, and if I don't have a culprit by tomorrow you can get back to begging random passers-by for shrine donations. Do I make myself clear??

Reimu was only half-listening, brushing Shikieiki away as she stood up and rubbed her new bruises.

?Yeah, yeah, whatever. Sorry for not wanting to waste time if we didn't have to.?

Reimu excused herself, stepping out of the office without so much as picking up the chair on the floor. Shikieiki put a hand to her forehead, rubbing her temples.

?...Surely there has to be someone more competent than her that I can hire...?

-----

?Now, dear, I understand the body is unusual, but it makes sense that-?

?You're talking about a vampire here! Why the hell are you looking for sense?!?

Even before she'd entered the morgue, Reimu could make out the coroners in one of their usual debates. It was the only position in the whole of the GPD where there'd been more than one applicant, and Shikieiki had been so grateful for the support that she'd hired both of them rather than needing to choose one. Opening the ominous set of double-doors in, Reimu saw the pair looking over what was left of Remilia Scarlet.

?Saigyouji, Kaenbyou, good to see you. Now if you could tell me this was a suicide or an accident it'd be the best day ever.?

The pair were distracted from their little clash by Reimu's entry. Yuyuko Saigyouji was the first to respond, giving her that warm, cheerful smile that made it feel like she was talking to her own mother. In another glaring example of Why-Don't-We-Have-A-Uniform Syndrome, she had undertaken the autopsy in a simple blue and pink kimono.

?Ah, Reimu. Sorry to disappoint you, but...we've got nothing useful for you on that front. The body is too badly damaged to confirm whether Miss Scarlet was injured before her...exposure.?

Yuyuko had a slightly disturbing ability to talk about death and her occupation without dropping her smile for an instant. Given that she was a ghost herself, death probably just didn't seem that big a deal to her. Reimu briefly considered the irony of a ghost working in a morgue before she remembered that the boss was probably timing her every move.

?...Alright, then. What exactly can you tell me??

Yuyuko nodded, pulling out a small piece of paper on which she'd written some notes.

?Well, we can say first and foremost that it's most definitely Remilia Scarlet. That or she's been lying in a furnace for the last week, but I'm assuming we can rule that out. Method of death is unknown, but obviously the whole sunlight thing didn't help out. As for a time of death, I'd be willing to go for something along the lines of three or four o'clock in the morning.?

?Yeah, with some absurd guesswork.?

Rin Kaenbyou, or Orin as she insisted on everyone calling her (vainly), took this moment to intervene in the discussion. Her black ears pricked up at the sign of an opening, and she grinned in a way that always made Reimu shuffle a little. Apparently no-one had suggested to her that bright red hair in braids was probably a bad idea when performing an autopsy, but at least compared to Yuyuko her dark-green dress was relatively ordinary. A kasha who'd had plenty of experience with corpses herself, she was young but nearly on par with the centuries-old Yuyuko.

?You're already assuming that Scarlet has an abnormally low body temperature. Since when were you some sorta expert on vampire anatomy??

Yuyuko was unfazed by the attack, turning around to Rin with the same smile she'd shown Reimu.

?I don't claim to be one, Miss Kaenbyou. It's simple common sense, really.?

Rin stamped her foot into the floor.

?Seriously, what the hell's wrong with Orin!? It's shorter!?

?It's also not your name~?

The cat seemed ready to pounce on Yuyuko at any moment, but the ghost maintained her typical dumb smile. Reimu was used to scenes like this, and slowly began to edge towards the door.

?So, uh, yeah, you guys don't have anything concrete for me right now??

?Well, we might, if Miss Kaenbyou would listen to logic for a change.?

?Oh, of course. Because Grandma Yuyuko's never wrong, is she??

For an instant, an expression of anger flashed across Yuyuko's face. She waved Reimu away.

?Detective, you should be getting back to work. Miss Kaenbyou and I have some...discussion to do.?

Reimu took the hint, slipping back out of the morgue and moving on. The coroners looked at each other in silence for a few seconds.

?...You know we could just look it up.?

?But that spoils the fun~?

-----

Great. We got nothing, and now I have to go back out there and do my damn job.

Reimu walked towards the exit of the G.P.D. as slowly as her feet would physically allow. Work was always a hassle for her, but early mornings were the best way to kill her interest dead. Most of her workmates considered her to be the most reluctant and unwilling genius Gensokyo had ever seen. Of course, none of them bothered to say anything like that to her face, because she'd probably take it as an insult. 'I'm not unwilling,' she'd argue, 'I just don't see the point. It's not like I'm bringing people back from the dead or anything.'

?H-Hey! Detective, wait up!?

The sound of hasty footsteps behind her was a good enough excuse for Reimu to stop walking. Turning around she could make out a streak of blue coming down the corridor, slowing to reveal a young girl as she slowed down.

?I...thought you'd be...hanging around for a little longer...?

Not really used to physical exercise, Nitori Kawashiro had to catch her breath for a few seconds. The only things stopping her attire ? clothes, hair, eyes and all ? from being entirely the same shade of light blue were the simple green cap she wore and the (probably completely unnecessary) backpack that she always seemed to carry around. She reached into one of the several pockets on the hem of her dress.

?I just wanted...you to take this with you...?

Reimu's eyebrows knit. Nitori was the sole employee in the G.P.D.'s Forensics department, which basically meant that she was the technological brain around here. As a kappa, she had more scientific knowledge than all of her colleagues combined, and it was knowledge she typically put to good use. She pulled out a small bottle filled with a very pale-yellow liquid, handing it to Reimu.

?Mind seeing if you can test this thing out in the field? I just put the finishing touches on it.?

Reimu looked at the bottle, puzzled. There were no markings or instructions on it.

?...What does it do??

?Ah, that's simple. It reacts with suitable oxidizing agents, producing very obvious chemiluminescence-?

Nitori cut herself short as she noticed the blank, totally lost look on Reimu's face. She took a deep breath, reminding herself that she really was the only scientist on the premises.

?It turns blue if it comes into contact with blood. Even if someone's tried to clean it off, it'll react with the traces. Does that make sense??

Reimu nodded.

?Yeah, that I can understand. Why not say that first time around the next time, okay??

Holding onto the bottle, Reimu returned to the long and arduous process of making the last three steps to the door. Nitori made no effort to wave her goodbye, giving her one passing comment as she went back down the corridor to her own little laboratory.

?And if you find anything interesting in there, bring it back to me, 'kay? I'll see what I can do.?

?Sure, sure.?

Nitori said this every time, so Reimu had just stopped paying attention. She left the G.P.D. Headquarters, catching Cirno at the entrance counting to herself.

?So did you finish that little job I gave you??

?...Two-thousand and four...two-thousand and five...uh, sorry, ma'am, I haven't made it to a million yet...?

Reimu patted her on the back.

?Forget it. We've got a murder to solve.?

Unfortunately.

-----

Actual mystery starting in the next chapter, sorry. This is sort of an introduction to ~~CSI: Gensokyo~~ the G.P.D. >_>
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Shizumarashi Mayuzumi on October 24, 2009, 03:21:38 AM: Haha, did Nitori seriously just invent luminol? <3
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin on October 24, 2009, 03:23:12 AM: Heh. Never look something up when you can arrive at a conclusion by bickering at cross-purposes ...
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Drake on October 24, 2009, 03:29:40 AM: I lol at the Big Y not being any of our guesses.

You also said the word 'simple' four times in one chapter :3
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin on October 24, 2009, 04:34:12 AM: Fine, then. Yuyuko, on the balcony, with DEATHHAX
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Von Stein on October 24, 2009, 05:23:17 AM: Nice cast placement!

Hmmm...Yukari, on the moon, with sake!
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: FinnKaenbyou on October 24, 2009, 10:27:55 AM: Quote from: Drake on October 24, 2009, 03:29:40 AM
You also said the word 'simple' four times in one chapter :3
~~The word comes naturally to me. It reminds me of myself. :3~~

I'm slightly disturbed that you were counting. :|
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: WRATHIE_Beatrice on October 24, 2009, 01:23:46 PM: This mystery is amusing

First of all, my words in blue, Rou!
Theory one!

Remilia Scarlet was already killed before being shoved down for it to be destroyed by sunlight!
This is so as although we are not sure of the location of the body, it would be safe to assume that if Remilia Scarlet was alive at that point of time, she would be able to recover from the shock as it was stated that happened that night! If the body was not killed before it was shoved off, it could only be done at the afternoon as the sunlight would be strong enough to kill her!

Before you answer, state that the body was killed in the night before the investigation!! If not, then we go on to theory 2

Remilia Scarlet was killed by X, a person in or outside the Mansion that had visited Remilia Scarlet prior to the incident. It can be a few days before the incident or it can be on the night itself as it is stated that either it is Remilia Scarlet or a burnt enough corpse to be Remilia Scarlet.

Hence, my theory is that:
That person is NOT Remilia Scarlet but a person disguised as one or the murder was done earlier, and only made to find out at this time!

About the culprits.

Cirno is a 9th! Everyone in Gensokyo can do it if they can fly! it is utterly possible for Remilia Scarlet to respond to a secret rendezvous with a yuri partner or to willingly open the balcony or to confront some one barging into a mansion!

Hence, anyone near the vicinity of the SDM that night, if assuming that she was killed that night is a culprit!
If not, ANYONE IN GENSOKYO WITHOUT A SOLID ALIBI BETWEEN THE SDM AND THEIR LOCATION COUL BE THE CULPRIT!

Go on, use your RED! I'm the Golden Hakutaku here, NOT YOU!
/me cackles madly
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: FinnKaenbyou on October 24, 2009, 09:57:27 PM: Protip for Wrathie: I'm not under any obligation to respond to your blue text. Sitting here and talking with you about the case, picking out the holes in your theories is just going to spoil it for everyone else.

See, this is even more entertaining than killing your theories with the red truth, isn't it? You have to sit back and wait along with everyone else for me to write it all out for you! Isn't it fun to have to twiddle your thumbs, mister genius detectiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive?

(Seriously, though, I'm fine with you trying to solve the mystery, but don't talk about it in public. Keep it to yourself and have the satisfaction of screaming I KNEW IT when things get revealed. >_>)
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: WRATHIE_Beatrice on October 25, 2009, 12:40:33 AM: spoil sport, it won't be fun if everyone won't know your theories are shot down by me easily :V
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin on October 25, 2009, 02:10:57 AM: Quote from: WRATHIE_Beatrice on October 25, 2009, 12:40:33 AM
spoil sport, it won't be fun if everyone won't know your theories are shot down by me easily :V
Yeah, but they're your theories, not his.
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: WRATHIE_Beatrice on October 25, 2009, 03:57:42 AM: he is the writer, i'm the detective. 8)

I destroy his theories and his job is to disprove them. Still, i'll keep it private between us.
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin on October 25, 2009, 07:20:33 AM: I don't think "theory" means what you seem to think it does. ???
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: FinnKaenbyou on October 26, 2009, 02:43:49 AM: Quote from: WRATHIE_Beatrice on October 25, 2009, 03:57:42 AM
theories
You keep using that word.
I do not think it means what you think it means.

Anyway, you can thank my screaming roommates for this segment. >_>

-----

It was hardly as though much would have changed in the time they were gone. No criminal would have been foolish enough to flee the scene after the police had arrived ? assuming they hadn't fled already. Reimu touched down on the clearing outside of the mansion, Cirno trailing behind.

?N-No fair! Humans shouldn't be able to fly faster than youkai!?

Reimu held out a single finger, waving it at Cirno.

?Aw, mad because a human's beating you at something for once~??

It was these small victories that Reimu had to savour. She knew that if she wanted to Cirno could probably snap her like a twig, so she needed to play to her opponent's weaknesses. After a brief session of pulling faces at each other, the pair decided it might actually be a good idea to get on with their jobs.

This time, though, someone was standing at the doorway. An awkward-looking, surprisingly elegant woman in a green dress stood guard at the door, long red hair hanging down her back. She stood in a stance from some martial art that Reimu didn't recognise, flinching as she saw the detectives approach.

?H-Halt! State your name and business!?

Uncertainty hung in her voice. Reimu, disregarding the threat, simply walked up to her and flashed her badge.

?Reimu Hakurei, Gensokyo Police. I assume you're an employee of the late Remilia Scarlet??

The girl's eyes widened as she looked at the badge, almost enawed by how shiny it was. She shook herself back into reality, though, standing to attention.

?S-Sorry. Yes, I'm the mansion's door guard, Hong Meiling.?

?Hong...Mei...Ling...??

The Chinese-sounding name didn't really slip well off of Reimu's lips. She sighed.

?Yeah, mind if I just call you China??

?U-Um...?

?Good to hear you agree, China.?

Meiling's shoulders slumped, as she was forced into her nickname without getting a say. Cirno simply smiled, finding the name kind of funny. She muttered it to herself, getting excited as Reimu continued to ask the questions.

?So you're the security around here.?

?Basically, yeah. I stand here 24/7, making sure no-one unruly gets in.?

?Then where were you when I showed up a little while ago??

Meiling's eyes looked away from the detective, and her face fell.

?I was...recovering, so to speak. Since I'm the one on duty out here, it was me who found Miss Remilia's body, and...I mean, I'm trained to fight, and all, but I've never seen that happen to a body before...?

Meiling shook slightly, biting her lip. It was probably a good idea to change the subject.

?So, last night. Anything interesting happen??

?Um...?

Meiling's eyes slid around again. Was she nervous, or coming up with an excuse?

?Well, it's a hard job, you know? This is a big place, and watching the whole perimeter at once is pretty hard. Sakuya never listens to me, though, and she just punishes me whenever I mess up.?

One word in particular caught Reimu's interest. Further inquiry was probably deeper into her background than she needed to go, but Shikieiki had more or less given up on arguing that against her.

?...Miss China, mind expanding on this 'punishment'??

Meiling's eyes stopped swiveling around, and she gasped as for a moment she stared Reimu in the eye. Then she sighed, misery running across her face.

?...She's cruel, that Sakuya. Restricts my rations and beats me senseless if I let so much as a fly get in. She's sturdier than she looks, trust me, and give her some knives and she's all but unstoppable.?

That hadn't been the opinion of Sakuya Reimu had gathered from the brief encounter the two had had, but Meiling almost undoubtedly knew the maid better than she did. She made a mental note of it.

?...I see. Did you bring this up with your mistress??

?What would the point have been? Miss Remilia adored Sakuya. She was a lot older than she looked, and she took Sakuya in practically as a daughter. She'd just tell me it was what I deserved or something...but I was never sure about Sakuya.?

Meiling was sitting on the ground now, getting more and more depressed by the second.

?I was always worried, y'know, that she was trying to just get on the mistress's good side and then stab her in the back. There were rumours she used to be some sort of vampire hunter a long time ago, and, well...?

Reimu nodded periodically, keeping track of all of this. People often showed different faces when the police showed up, so this sort of testimony was invaluable.

?...Anyway. Mind if I take a look around her room??

?You'll need to go to Sakuya's first. She has the master key, and the mistress's key is in her own room. Locked, and we haven't touched it since we found the body.?

Meiling got to her feet, still looking a little glum as she led them into the mansion itself.

?...Whoa.?

Something was wrong with this place. It had seemed large enough from the outside, but as soon as she'd stepped in the door Reimu was certain the walls had doubled in height and width. An elegant chandelier hung atop this entrance hall, with dark red paint running across its walls. Meiling seemed undisturbed by the change, and Cirno was too busy talking to herself to care.

?Don't worry about the halls. The mistress liked to have a little fun with time and space. Sakuya helped, too, but most of the time Miss Remilia kept her power in check.?

A little fun?

Reimu still stared up at the mansion's hallways, amazed. Even in youkai terms, Remilia would have needed to be pretty powerful to pull this off.

After an insanely long series of doors and corridors, Meiling came to a halt in front of one which looked more or less like all of the rest. A simple nameplate had 'Izayoi Sakuya' written on it in simple, effective handwriting. Meiling knocked.

?Sakuya? You in there??

Silence. Meiling shrugged.

?She's been holed up in there for a while now. Something about seeing the body, but I never thought she'd go look at it herself...?

Reimu glared at Cirno angrily.

?Well, she never locks her door anyway, so I guess you can probably just head on in.?

Meiling took a cautious step back, worry filling her face for an instant.

?J-Just...don't tell her it was me who sent you, okay? I'll lead you to the mistress's room when you're done.?

Reimu nodded, then promptly pulled the door open with all of her might regardless of Meiling's worries. She had never been the type for subtlety.

Compared to the elegance of the rest of the mansion, Sakuya's room was amazingly Spartan. There was a bed, a chair and desk, and a cupboard presumably containing a change of uniform. The maid herself was seated at the desk, staring at nothing in particular. She swirled around a key on her index finger, completely ignoring Reimu's entry.

?...Hey. I'm gonna need that key from you, if you don't mind.?

She threw on those last words as an afterthought. Sakuya stopped the swirling, letting the key hang on her finger. Slowly, she turned her head towards the detective, her expression worryingly neutral.

?Certainly.?

She rose, walking up to Reimu and in an almost mechanical fashion. There was no excess emotion, no unnecessary grace or clumsiness. Just a simple gait, practised and perfected to a near-atomic level of precision. She dropped the key in Reimu's open hand, looking at her with bloodshot eyes.

?You seem to have recovered pretty quickly.?

Sakuya blinked at Reimu, still emotionless.

?Believe me, I've cried myself dry. After so long you just learn to move on, don't you.?

Something in her eyes, cold and empty, pricked up hairs on the back of Reimu's neck. There was a saying that the eyes were the portal to the soul, so what did this say about Sakuya?

?...Well, I hope you don't mind if I hold on to this. For investigation purposes.?

Sakuya nodded.

?Feel free. It's not like I have anything to use it for, anyway.?

With the same automated steps, Sakuya made her way back to the desk, returning to her seat. She began staring at the wall again, head in her hands.

?...Shouldn't you be going somewhere??

Reimu was knocked out of her observation of the maid by a single, calm sentence. She took the hint, slipping back out of the door to leave her to her own mutterings. As the miko left, Sakuya muttered a single sentence to herself.

?...But where do I go from here...??
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin on October 26, 2009, 04:21:17 AM: Hmm. From the coldness in her eyes, it's obviously going to be Sakuya, on the balcony, with silver knife; which is to say, it's so obvious, it can't possibly be the right answer. |3
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Kuma on October 26, 2009, 04:41:47 AM: Oh god, poor Sakuya.
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: untitled servent on October 26, 2009, 05:33:40 AM: INCONCEIVABLE

Now that that's been done I have to say that I'm enjoying this story. I haven't really been reading much touhou anything recently, mainly do to lack of interest, but I liked this.

oh yeah, 100 on Immortal Sakuya
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Von Stein on October 26, 2009, 10:13:58 PM: Quote from: khinsu on October 26, 2009, 05:33:40 AM
INCONCEIVABLE

Guess I came late for the party. Ah well, I shall duel him left handed, etc. etc. etc.

And yes, Sakuya's appearance right now point to her not being the killer for being shown as the prime suspect right away. So she may be, after all, how many rounds of "but he may anticipate us anticipating him anticipating" can you go?
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin on October 26, 2009, 11:51:30 PM: Quote from: Edward von Stein on October 26, 2009, 10:13:58 PM
Guess I came late for the party. Ah well, I shall duel him left handed, etc. etc. etc.

And yes, Sakuya's appearance right now point to her not being the killer for being shown as the prime suspect right away. So she may be, after all, how many rounds of "but he may anticipate us anticipating him anticipating" can you go?
You know if we get too close, he'll point and go "HEY LOOK A DISTRACTION" and then switch the drinks around, metaphorically speaking ...
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Von Stein on October 27, 2009, 03:08:22 PM: Quote from: KimikoMuffin on October 26, 2009, 11:51:30 PM
You know if we get too close, he'll point and go "HEY LOOK A DISTRACTION" and then switch the drinks around, metaphorically speaking ...

Why would he do that? He had already turned his back to
poison both cups.

Yes, I felt that spoiler was necessary. =3
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin on October 27, 2009, 05:27:02 PM: Nonono, Vizzini was the one who went HEY LOOK A DISTRACTION,
Wesley was the one who poisoned both cups
.

I think we can officially say we've overextended this metaphor a bit too much ...
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Thata no Guykoro on October 27, 2009, 10:22:53 PM: I quite enjoy reading this story. Interesting to see Cirno as a police worker though... I thought some intellegence was needed for that.

Also, haven't you guys noticed the criminal in a mystery is often who you least expect it to be? I bet Meiling did it.
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: FinnKaenbyou on October 28, 2009, 11:04:42 PM: Reimu was barely aware of which direction she was going as Meiling led her to Remilia's room. The rooms and corridors of the mansion almost seemed to fold within themselves in an infinite loop. If she were left alone now, Reimu wasn't sure she'd be able to get out of this place without tearing a wall down.

?China, China, China~?

Cirno was still talking to herself, turning Meiling's new nickname into a strange, off-key song. The door guard grew more and more irritated with every verse, so eventually Reimu had to shut her up forcefully. She enjoyed it.

?Ow...?

Cirno rubbed her head as Meiling came to a halt again. If that wasn't enough to tell Reimu that this was Remilia's room, then the bright red door with an ornate bat-shaped handle would probably be enough to do the trick. She didn't need to guess which key served this door, either ? her hand naturally went for the gold-plated one. It fit in the lock effortlessly.

Guess our victim didn't really see the point in humility.

The interior of the room was just as elaborate as the front door had suggested. A dark scarlet paint hung on the walls, with a floor lined in velvet. A bed far too large for a girl Remilia's size was in one corner, along with a cupboard and chest of drawers made of an expensive-looking wood. The balcony door was well hidden behind an obscenely large pair of curtains, and Reimu noted that it was locked as well. Finding the key for it took a little more effort than the time before, but eventually she found it and stepped outside.

Looking down, she confirmed that the body had been found just at the bottom of the balcony. She could still make out the markings Cirno had left to indicate its previous location (a charming caricature of Remilia, with the words 'I am ded' hanging in some sort of speech bubble beside her). Meiling took a step into the room as Reimu returned from the balcony.

?We left it just as it was when the murder took place. No unlocking doors, no messing with the room, nothing.?

She stepped out and left the two to their investigation afterwards Reimu's brow creased as she thought over her last statement. On instinct she started to rummage through Remilia's drawers, and with surprisingly little effort found a pair of keys identical to the one's she'd used for the room's two doors. Cirno caught on to Reimu's discovery, eyeing up the keys curiously.

?Ooh, interesting. Verrrry interesting.?

She broke into another childish grin. Reimu sighed, already getting ready to refute the inevitable accusation.

?Well, ma'am, that just about wraps everything up, doesn't it? There's only one set of keys that the criminal could've used to lock the door behind them, and that's Miss Frilly-Maid. Case closed, the butler did it, Cirno strikes again!?

She punched the air as she celebrated, her feet never quite reaching the ground again afterwards. She fluttered about in the air, flying in a circle around Reimu who by now was clenching her hand up into a fist.

?So did I do good? Huh? Huh? Did I do good, ma'am? I figured it out by myself, didn't I? I'm the stronge-?

Cirno suddenly realised that Reimu had left her hand hanging out, still clenched, straight in her flight path. Needless to say, she wasn't very good at braking, and the inevitable collision left her with a pretty sore head.

It also nearly knocked Reimu's arm clean off.

Note to self. You are not a human roadblock.

?...Well, at least I got you to shut up.?

Reimu held her aching arm up with her spare one, wishing she'd managed to hold in her anger for just a second longer. The pain slowly dulled, and she hadn't broken anything, so overall it hadn't been a disastrous choice, at least.

?Look. She said herself that she went to bed early last night, right? And we've been told that she keeps her door unlocked, so anyone could've walked in and taken it.?

Cirno was shocked, almost offended by Reimu's words. She pouted.

?B-But come on! Claiming she happened to be asleep on the night of the murder? No alibi? How can you trust her?!?

?Call it a hunch.?

Without bothering to go into any more detail, Reimu got around to whipping out Nitori's latest invention. The bottle had a spray-head at the top, so it was easy enough to fire at the walls and floor of the room. Cirno was left with nothing to do as Reimu went about her business, flying over to Remilia's bed and falling on it with a flump.

?...Stupid Reimu...it's so obvious...?

Cirno let her head hang behind the side of the bed as she lay there having a huff. It took her a few seconds to realise something had fallen down there.

?...Huh??

Her hands clumsily reached out to grab at it, and as she pulled it out she realised it was a piece of paper. Quickly unfolding it and reading, Cirno's eyes bulged open.

?H-Hey, look at this!?

Reimu turned away from her unsuccessful blood-hunt, finally managing to resist her primal urge to knock out a few of Cirno's teeth. The fairy held the note out so that Reimu could read it with ease.

To Whom It May Concern,
It is with simultaneous guilt and relief that I inform you that I have decided to end my own life. After 500 years on this earth, I have reached the point where nothing excites me. Farewell to all of you.
~Remilia Scarlet

?See? This is it! Concrete proof! A bona-fide suicide note!?

Cirno was bouncing on the bed, hitting it with such force that Reimu was worried it would snap in two. She shared none of Reimu's enthusiasm.

?Doesn't make sense. How could she put it in a locked room? And why would she put it somewhere like that, where no-one would see it??

?Ah, well that's simple. Sakuya came in, found the note, panicked, hid it, locked the doors and left!?

It was a huge jump on Cirno's part, and besides that it was a stupid thing for Sakuya to do, but regrettably there was nothing Reimu could do to prove it was completely impossible. Right now there was a big lack of anything concrete in this case, and it was starting to piss her off.

?...Well, whatever. We need more info anyway before we can get anywhere. Bring that with you and we'll get moving.?

Cirno nodded, glad that at least one of her theories had made it through. She scrunched up the note into a little ball and stuffed it in a pocket before following Reimu out the door.

Meiling was nowhere to be found.

?Uh...you don't happen to know the way back, do you, ma'am??

?Nope.?

?...We're lost, aren't we??

?Uh-huh.?
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin on October 29, 2009, 02:11:39 AM: Hmmm.

I'm gonna reiterate my previous guess. :3
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: FinnKaenbyou on November 05, 2009, 03:57:45 AM: Herein lies EXPOSITION.

-----

This mansion was an incredible piece of architecture. Every single corridor and doorway had been perfectly crafted to the utmost pinnacle of design. Everything was ornate, and beautiful.

This had the unfortunate side effect of making every single corridor look exactly the same.

"Do you even know which direction we're going any more, kid?"

Reimu had grown too dizzy to lead herself, letting Cirno decide which path the pair would take. She had had just as much success as her predecessor, as they passed Remilia's room for what must have been the eleventh time. Reimu's stomach rumbled slightly, reminding her she'd skipped breakfast.

I haven't so much as seen anything edible all day...

She was having trouble believing it, but she was so bored from this walking that she was actually willing to resort to talking to Cirno.

"...So, what made you want to join the force? Power? Respect?"

An unhealthy obsession with the shiny badge?

"Well, I sorta needed the money from the job."

"Oh, really. What for?"

So you can buy all the popsicles you could eat?

"I have people to feed."

...Oh.

"Never saw you as the type to have a family."

"It's not a family, stupid."

Cirno threw out an insult, clearly offended by Reimu's quip. This was a harsher side to her that Reimu hadn't honestly expected to see.

"I'm pretty well known among the fairies of Gensokyo. Not that that means much, since for youkai we're pretty much the bottom of the ladder."

Reimu suddenly felt the urge to respond with something offensive die down. She had never considered that in the same way humans had to deal with youkai being stronger, there were youkai who were weak too.

"Fairies don't have much of a social standing. Hell, fairies don't have much of anything, so a lot of us have to fend for ourselves. I know a lot of people who can barely stand up to the average human, so imagine how hard life is for them in the wild..."

Cirno's hands unconsciously clenched into fists. She made sure not to look back so Reimu couldn't see the tears in her eyes.

"I...I can't just let people starve because they weren't born strong, y'know? So I buy some food from the human village and pass it out to the people who are struggling...but money doesn't come out of nowhere."

"...So you decided to become a police officer."

Reimu had expected an ounce of spite to be present in her voice, but she came out sounding unusually sincere. For a moment, she almost forgot that Cirno was even a youkai.

"I...I'm not very smart. I know that. But this is the only job that'll accept me, and I really need to help people out..."

Cirno rubbed her eyes hastily, but her weakness was obvious. Reimu felt the guilt stab at her like an icicle through the heart. Cirno stopped walking, still looking away from Reimu as she froze in place.

"...I'm not holding you back, am I? I'm helping, right...?"

Reimu's mind was apparently not in sync with the rest of her body, because before she knew it she was walking towards the teary Cirno. Her arms were widening, she was wrapping them around her and-

"Don't knock yourself, kid. You're doing your part."

What the hell is wrong with me?!

The words seemed to flow out of her mouth without her controlling it. She couldn't remember the last time she'd complimented a person, but here she was comforting a girl she'd known for maybe a few hours. And a youkai at that...

"You found that note, didn't you? No way I would have looked down the side of the bed."

Cirno looked up at her, still weeping.

"R...Really?"

You can still bail out! Say it was a joke and slap her!

A voice in her head told her to disregard Cirno's problems, but it was something she couldn't stop. Maybe deep down, there was some part of her that wasn't an utter bastard.

"Really. You should be proud of yourself, Cirno."

And now she'd called her by name. That was it, she'd crossed the barrier and just treated a youkai like a normal person. A little part of her ego died spontaneously.

Amazingly, she didn't care.

"T...Thank you, m-ma'am..."

Cirno fought back tears again, this time of happiness than of shame. Reimu felt her heart warm up a little seeing the smile return to the fairies face.

...Alright. I'll admit that not ALL youkai are assholes.

Reimu broke off the hug, doing her best to return to her normal, calm facade afterward.

Just most of them.

"Now, let's get going. We need to find a staircase back down, remember!"

Cirno, wiping away the last tear from her face, also did her best to become the cheery, eager girl she'd been before.

"R-Right! You can count on me! I'm the...I'm the strongest, after all!"

She bolted down the hallway, moving faster than Reimu could hope to follow. The shrine maiden dashed in her direction, hoping Cirno wouldn't get too far ahead-

"Aah-owowowowowow!"

The sound of something tumbling was coming from Cirno's direction, along with her cries of pain. Following the sound, Reimu finally found a staircase back to the first floor, along with a badly-bruised ice fairy lying at the bottom of it. Cirno raised a hand, giving the detective a thumbs-up.

"Found it."

Reimu sighed.

"Idiot."

Cirno fumed slightly at that, but Reimu had added an almost joking edge to it. Maybe it would be okay to be nice to one or two youkai when the time called for it...

"...Wait, where are we now?"

The staircase didn't lead down the way they'd come. It had brought them into an entirely new wing of the mansion, with shelves of books further than Reimu could see. If she didn't know better, she'd think she'd just walked into-

"...A library."
Title: Re: The Case Files of Reimu Hakurei - File #006-KOUMA
Post by: Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin on November 05, 2009, 05:45:33 AM: Patchouli, in the library, with the 400-page book How To Kill Insects.