1.47: The CavalryMy expression softened. I let out a slow breath.“…No. I’d never break up with either of you.”

  As my hand lifted from the table, I realized it had nded squarely on one photo in the scattered file. A familiar face stared up at us… it was the same cold-eyed man from the amusement park. I wished punching the picture would send the man himself to the afterworld.

  “This is our man,” I said quietly. “Reiko-chan’s murderer. I’m certain. I’ll expin why.”

  Both girls leaned closer, staring at the image beneath my palm.

  The photo captured him perfectly… those lifeless eyes, that practiced, empty smile. A man who had probably never truly loved anything in his life.

  Ume’s face lit with a dangerous sparkle. “He’s pretty handsome! I think that I could handle him! He looks like he could be a vampire lord… Those cold eyes… mmh… reminds me of the legend of Vd Tepes.”She actually blushed.

  “You’re hot for a murderer?” I stared at her. “…Or for Dracu?”

  Ume twiddled her fingers, giggling. “A lot of yokai have killed at least one human, you know. It’s not exactly shocking for us.”

  Rui shot upright. “What? Absolutely NOT! He’s OFF the menu! This bastard needs to die—or at least face justice.”

  Ume tilted her head, nodding serenely. “That’s fine. Girls are more fun anyway.” She purred.

  Rui’s ears went scarlet. She jerked her gaze back to the photo.“A-ANYWAY!” she snapped. “He was one of the ones that dated Reiko-chan. If he cared about her, he’d want to see her ‘alive’ again. If he hated her… he’ll be even more drawn in. And if he killed her, as I believe he did, he’ll take the bait no matter what. All we need is to wave you around in front of him like a cat teaser, then watch how he responds.”Her eyes sharpened. “Susu… why are you so sure?”

  “It’s solid evidence,” I replied. “Sure I hated him the moment I saw him. But more importantly… but I saw them together a short time before she died. Without a doubt, he was the st man she was dating. So…” I shrugged and swallowed, waiting.

  Rui inhaled slowly, gathering herself. “That lines up perfectly. Kami… I can’t believe you were investigating the same murders without even knowing it. This is the second time I’ve been scooped in this case. You’re both amazing, you know. Reiko-chan could’ve been my partner if she’d held back and just worked a little more closely with me... But you—”She smiled shyly.“—you’re already a great partner, Susumu.”

  I turned away, my ears burning.“H-h-how can you just say that…?”

  “Remember the train when the Noh-face attacked us?”

  I nodded, calming down and thinking about that moment. “It was tense and frightening. It was hammering on a train car full of passengers, trying to get at us. We’d been acting like foolish acrobats. What happened that screams ‘great’ partner? I ended up the literal butt of the joke.” I couldn’t help blushing again for another reason, remembering all the humiliation of being on my face in the train car afterwards with my butt stuck up in the air. I was a walking advertising billboard, or more accurately my butt was by design.”

  “You don’t see it? All you’re thinking about is how embarrassing it was.” Rui giggled. “That was the moment when I decided to start opening my heart… just a little. I knew that I could trust you. Sure your little tea stunt on the ptform kind of got things started me thinking better of you, but…” Rui smiled softly.

  “But?” I asked, my heart thumping.

  “In that car, it gelled. You threw me into the air, trusting me. Thanks to that we won the crowd over and that helped to cover up what we were really up to. You weren’t trying to protect me. You weren’t treating me like too many others do. From the start you treated me for who I am. Not even she could pull that off, Susu.”

  “But that nearly got us arrested…” I frowned. “We had too many eyes on us thanks to those stunts.”

  “Sounds like fun!” Ume giggled.

  “It was.” Rui grinned. “Plus you stood up to Rickey, although it was totally unnecessary.”

  I blushed again, remembering how Rickey’s body had eaten away her clothes. It took a lot of my willpower to not get a nosebleed over that.

  “It’s a good thing that you didn’t react like a pervert when I came out. I’d have creamed you!” Rui blushed.

  I winced, palling.

  She did hit me. Really hard.

  I had shot across the void of Rickey’s domain, flipped in the air and face-pnted into the concrete, creating a massive crater that I filled with my tears.

  “Ahhh.. Rickey’s infamous hugs. Ew. He’s hell on clothes, isn’t he? It’s funny how close he is with Natalia.” Ume giggled. “A clothier… good friends with a professional stripper. I think he has a crush on her, too. It’s sad…”

  Rui giggled and nodded. “That’s not his real profession… but anyway…”

  “I still don’t see why I’m such a good partner. I was totally useless until we found the Noh-Face…” I smiled wryly, wringing my hands. “I had to be dragged every step…”

  “Don’t underestimate yourself so much, BAKA!” Rui barked.

  “Fufufufufu~!” Ume folded her hands dramatically. “The sweet glow of young love! I feel like I’m soaking in a tub of maple syrup! Keep going, my children!”

  “L-love?!” Rui and I shrieked at the same time, recoiling like startled cats.

  Rui filed, then cleared her throat loudly. “W-we’re getting way off track! What matters is… Where we’re going next. The clue you gave us, Susu gave this case the st push it needed.” She extended her finger.

  I flushed with Rui. “W… well… what’s next?”

  “Although it won’t be right away… we’re going to see HIM. I know where to find him. This bastard owns a whole skyscraper here in Tokyo. He’s filthy rich… probably more than the rest. The kind of wealth that screams dirty deals. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s tied to the executives who died… or worse.”Her voice trembled. “He killed Reiko-chan. That’s already more than enough reason to get started.”

  My fists tightened.There was nothing worse he could’ve taken from us. Compared to Reiko’s death, everything else was insignificant.

  Rui squared her shoulders. “Let’s call everyone from my network. Only the best of the best… we have to be careful.”

  “I’ll make more tea!” Ume hopped up and skipped to the kitchen, practically sparkling. “And I’ll call all my vampire minions too! You can count on us!”

  I coughed. “Ahahaha… The only, um… minion I have is that perverted tanuki that wants to do unspeakable things to me.”I shivered.

  “And honestly…” I chewed my lip. “…I’m scared of him.”

  “Just go out to the porch,” Rui ughed. “Yell his name. We need him. I bet he’s spying on us nearby. He’ll probably appear out of thin air.”

  “It’s true that he’s… useful,” I admitted, “but he’s just sooooo weird—”

  I couldn’t forget the first time he transformed in front of me. It wasn’t the soggy wall turning into a disgruntled soggy tanuki that came to my mind first. It was the motorcycle with a golden pque reading:“Akuchi the hot ride for his Master! Ride HARD!!!”

  “I DON’T WANT TO!!!” I shrieked.

  “DO IT!” Rui barked.

  Rui’s command hit me like a shock colr.

  I stiffened, scampered to the sliding door, and spped it open before I could stop myself.Why did I listen to her orders like a dog?!

  Somewhere deep inside, a little voice whispered at me…Because she yells.

  “SU–SU–MU!” Rui barked again.

  I squeaked, leaned out onto the porch, and opened my mouth.

  “A—AKU—”

  A tiny helicopter toy came buzzing directly in front of my face.

  “HYAH?!” I jerked back, looking wildly around for children pulling pranks. But no… this thing hovered with disturbing precision. The little rotor bdes spun merrily, and on the side of the toy was a name written in messy handwriting by a marker.

  Susumu

  He’s trying to make me his master again!!! Damn IT!!!

  I stumbled backwards into my apartment, whimpering. “You were eavesdropping!?” I gasped.

  The toy helicopter popped like a firecracker…

  …and in the smoke, Akuchi materialized and immediately leapt off the balcony into my apartment and glomped me.

  “Noooooooooooo!!!” I shrieked, filing like a cat thrown into bathwater.

  “MASTER!!!” Akuchi yelled.

  From behind us, Rui’s ughter echoed through my living room.“Stop cuddling! We still need to make some arrangements.”

  “I’m not gay!!!” I screamed while trying to peel Akuchi’s octopus arms off me.

  “Susumu! I thought you’d never call for me again!” Akuchi decred dramatically. “I’m pleased that you need my expertise! Of course, I’ll help! Anything you want, I will become!”

  He hopped back, cpped once…and exploded into mist.

  When the smoke cleared, a dark-skinned woman with long thick curly bck hair stood there, wearing his usual outfit… but now the skirt actually made sense.

  She struck a pose.

  “Are you pleased, master?” she purred. She arched an eyebrow at me.

  “D-don’t call me that! I’m just Susumu!” I yelped, my face on fire.

  “Awwww… okay, just Susumu.” She winked. “I’m ready to assist you.”

  “Can you even hold that form long? Isn’t it exhausting? And is that your real form or…?”

  Akuchi ughed with a low, throaty sound. “Hehehe… my real form is an African civet. Yes, it’s true that I was born a man, virile as the morning sun, but transformation makes such distinctions irrelevant.”She waved her hand carelessly. “When you’ve lived as long as I have, gender becomes more of a suggestion or a hobby than any kind of constraint. Speaking of hobbies, though…”

  She slid a firm hand onto my shoulder, eyes gleaming with feral intention.

  “Noooooooo!” I yelped.

  Rui stormed over and grabbed one of Akuchi’s ears, and dragged her bodily outside like a misbehaving dog.

  “Another guest for tea?” Ume asked brightly, poking her head out of the kitchen. “Ooh! It’s that tanuki, isn’t it? Very impressive! I like it.” She winked. “Let her back inside.”

  “But… but…” I muttered, feeling reality unravel.

  Rui whined. “But… but…”

  A knock sounded at my door, interrupting us.

  I lunged to answer the door, happy for the interruption, but Akuchi poofed and turned into a rabbit and sprinted inside between Rui’s legs.

  Once inside, she poofed again and ran for the door.“I’ll get it for you!!!”

  “N-no… wait… Aku…!”Oh kami, does she actually think she lives here now?!

  “Welcome to Susumu’s residence!” Akuchi sang, throwing the door open. “All are welcome!”

  “Oh my! How cute!” came a familiar, elegant coo.

  My soul left my body.

  “N…Natalia-sama…?” I whispered reverently as Natalia-sama herself walked inside my cheap apartment like it was a royal pace.

  Cherubs trumpeted behind her in my imagination.

  “It’s wonderful to see you again!” I cried, bouncing like the rabbit that Akuchi had become. “Natalia-sama!!”

  She turned her luminous gaze on me and giggled. “Oh my… A new face. Adorable indeed.”Then she looked at Ume. “Ume-dear! Imagine finding you here! Your new dress commission is finished. You must see it soon.”

  I blinked. Just… how closely knit was this group?! Did all the yokai know each other like a big family?

  “Um… Natalia-sama…” I fidgeted.

  She gnced my way, paused… and her eyes widened.

  “Oh I see!” she gasped and ughed. “Oh, how adorable…no way!”She rushed at me, wrapped her arms around me, and kissed me square on the mouth.

  My legs buckled.My brain melted.Kyaaaaaaaaaa—

  “Na… Natalia…” Rui choked out, voice strained. “Could you… please… release Susumu?”

  Natalia-sama finally pulled away, leaving my body in a warm, getinous state on the spot.

  “Rui-chan!” she said brightly. “You look lovely today! Your face is a little mottled, though. Did you eat too many sweets?”

  Rui blinked, then ughed.“No… We had Ume-chan’s special curry.”

  Ume stuck her head out of the kitchen again. “Fufu… magic curry.”

  “Oh…” Natalia-sama nodded sagely. “She’s a very impressive individual. Your auras are incredibly warm today.”

  She wagged a finger at Ume… who blushed for reasons I absolutely did not want to think too hard about.

  “AHHHHH! VAMPIRE FRIENDS!” Akuchi screeched.

  The timing was perfect.

  Because seconds ter, a tidal wave of vampires in full goth aristocrat clothing poured into my apartment like a convention had burst open in my hallway.

  Bck ce. Boots. Velvet capes. Corsets. Ruffled cravats. Glittering contacts. They were all wearing their finest clothes instead of grunge, for some strange reason.

  They filled every square inch.

  “Nononononono!!” Ume ughed, waving both hands to stop the incoming avanche. “Please! Calm down!”

  I was already crumpled in the corner of the room, knees to chest, rocking gently like a man waiting for evacuation orders.

  Even Natalia-sama backed up a little.

  Ume raised her voice over the chaos. “There isn’t enough room for all of you in here! Please wait outside. Thank you so much for coming!”

  She posed and winked.

  That was all it took.

  Every vampire in the room collectively swooned, and bowed so fast that they headbutted each other.

  “OUCH…” I winced as the ripple of pain passed through them like a domino effect.

  Then Ume floated up off the tatami… genuinely hovering gracefully near the ceiling… and cupped her hands around her mouth.

  “Thank you everyone! I’ll make LOTS of tea! Please step outside and wait!”

  The goth horde turned as one like a synchronized swim team and staggered awkwardly toward the exit, recreating the same domino effect. There was a horrific bottleneck in the hallway where my kitchenette was crammed near the door as ce, capes, and boots jammed together.

  “I’ll… escort my vampire friends out!” Akuchi announced, dramatically flipping her curly hair as she shoved her way through the mass of undead fashion icons.

  The thunderous stomping slowly diminished as the vampire flood receded.

  Finally… blessedly… we could breathe again.

  Rui ughed breathlessly. “Ume-chan, thanks to you, we actually might have a chance to win tonight!”She threw her arms around Ume’s neck in a spontaneous hug as she floated down, carefully adjusting her dress’ skirt.

  Ume accepted her praise with a grin and a pyful fangy nuzzle.

  “I–I… I don’t have enough teacups… for everyone…” I stammered, bowing deeply in apology. “I never expected to host such a huge p-party in my apartment! I’m so sorry!”

  Ume paused mid-smooch against Rui’s cheek.She tapped her lips thoughtfully.

  “…True.”

  Then she zipped toward the door in a blur and shouted to the goth congregation outside:

  “Everyone, please go buy some teacups and more delicious tea! Thank you!”

  Rui leaned in toward me with a mischievous smile. “Susu told me that there’s a convenience store nearby with great fried chicken. If they’re hungry, that’s where they should go.”

  Ume lit up. “Ah! Yes! Akuchi! Tell them about the chicken!”

  “I know the pce,” Akuchi yelled from the hallway. “I’ll make sure they all get some!”

  I stared at Rui.She stuck her tongue out like a gremlin.

  Of course she meant to terrorize that poor, elderly clerk. This was her revenge for his st comments.

  “But your chest—”

  I knew from personal experience that it wouldn’t end well for him.

  Then Rui’s tone shifted… softening into something more serious.“Susumu, I called Rickey too.”

  My soul left my body.

  “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! NOT HERE, BAKA!!” I screamed.

  “DON’T INTERRUPT ME, BAKA!” Rui bellowed back. “He’ll be waiting for us when we storm the murderer’s tower tonight! But numbers alone might not be enough.”

  Her expression darkened.

  Then she reached into her purse…

  And rummaged…

  and finally spped something onto the table.

  It made a heavy, ominous thump.

  Ume’s eyes widened.

  Akuchi drifted back inside and peered over Rui’s shoulder eagerly.

  Even Natalia-sama paused mid–lipstick-application to look.

  And then… they all stared at me.

  Suddenly quiet…. Focused… Expectant.

  Rui’s voice lowered.

  “There’s something else we need to talk about, Susumu.”

  The object glinted faintly under the fluorescent light, but her hand obscured it.

  It felt like something slimy and cold skittered down my spine as I gazed at it.

  Whatever Rui had put down there…

  It wasn’t just a simple object.

  It had some meaning that everyone but me understood.

  And they were all waiting for an answer….

  Relwing