Genkikid: I couldn't answer in time! I'm sorry!
Yamamoto_din: I'm sorry the update came late. I usually update faster than this. But I hope you still follow this story!
MaYukiIsLife: Thank you for answering Genkikid's question!
Haruko: Soon my young padawan soon.
AN: I'm sorry for the slow update but here it is! 4x longer than usual!
Banana Pancakes
Rock and roll music is playing as they drive in silence, not talking to each other, towards Namba. They didn't even look at each other, Miyuki choosing to look out into the forestry distance while the other focuses on driving.
"Miyuki.",Sayaka starts, the other girl's ears perking up."Are you a good artist?"
Although Sayaka got taken off the case, she is still curious. Of course she is, considering it is about her stalker.
"Huh? Me? I guess you could say I'm pretty good.",Miyuki says, surprised Sayaka took the initiative to talk to her.
Sayaka is cautious, afraid that any more poking might weaken their relationship any further. Sayaka is also wary of using the word 'friend' to describe Miyuki. Because to her, she has no friends.
"Why?",Miyuki continued.
"Oh it's nothing.",Sayaka says, trying to get out of the situation.
Miyuki looks at the other girl suspiciously, wondering what she is up to, but soon looks forward into the open road, letting the matter go.
"I still haven't forgiven you.",Miyuki says, still looking at the empty road before her, not wanting meet Sayaka's eyes that are now on her.
"Then what can I do?",Sayaka asks.
Miyuki thinks for a while, the silence killing Sayaka, wondering if the other girl will ever forgive her.
"Food.",Miyuki says, now looking at Sayaka,"Treat me.",she demands.
____
Rest stops. Rest stops are nice. Rest stops are useful. Rest stops have really a high price for banana pancakes.
Too expensive!Sayaka looks onto the buffet that is her table, filled with different assortments of breakfast foods. Miyuki is having no mercy for the poor wallet that is going to be exhausted after, ordering food and drinks over and over again till she is satisfied.
"Here is another order of banana pancakes ma'am.",the waiter says as he drops off the order at their table.
Sayaka looks at the dish, wondering why the heck it was created. She then looks at Miyuki who just smiles at her in delight before taking another bite of the succulent banana pancake.
"Here.",Miyuki says,lifting a fork up to Sayaka's mouth, egging her on to eat the demon that is the banana pancake.
Sayaka shakes her head, not wanting to taste the dish that is making her broke at the current moment, but Miyuki isn't having any of it and just shoves the fork in Sayaka's mouth.
It's pretty good.,Sayaka solemnly thinks, crying inside.
At least I'm forgiven 
____
A wooden cabin greets them, smelling of foliage and musky lumber, in the middle of a forest surrounded by a similar looking shed and tall trees—blocking most of the shining sun, only having a few pockets of light. The cabin looks old, almost thirty years old, the wood having mold and moss on it and they could help but feel a bit disgusted, and a bit scared, by the appearance.
It's the address.Sayaka walks up to the cabin with Milky, lagging behind, still full from her adventure in the restaurant, and knocks on the wooden door. Nobody answers, just the hollow sound of the door and the swaying of the trees of the forest could be heard. Sayaka could feel the tension, mostly due to the terrified figure behind her, but she takes a deep breath and knocks on the door again, hoping that somebody would answer.
But nobody does.
This is bad.Sayaka turns to the scared girl,"Let's go back to the car. We'll see if anyone comes."
Miyuki nods slowly.
But as they are about to leave, the door opens, revealing a strange woman dressed in gypsy clothing. She looks warily at them, questioning who they were, and says,"Who are you?"
Sayaka, surprised at the sudden appearance of the gypsy woman, pulls out her business card and hands it to her hastily. The woman takes it with shaky hands, quite strange for a young woman like her, and she reads it aloud, struggling to pronounce the words, pocketing the card after. She nods at the pair, understanding why they came here, and invites them in.
Sayaka is the first one to go in while Miyuki stares at the dark abyss that her partner just went through, imagining terrible things happening to the other girl. Suddenly a head pops out from the darkness.
"Are you coming or not?",Sayaka says, surprising the other girl, and earning a yelp from Miyuki.
"Don't yell. What are you doing?",Sayaka asks sternly, getting impatient at the slow girl.
"N-Nothing. Just uhh enjoying the view.",Miyuki says.
"Come in. She's going to tell us the job."
Miyuki nods and shoos the other girl away,"I'll be there. You go first."
Sayaka nods and leaves, but not before saying another time to come in soon.
Miyuki releases all the tension in her body, her hand resting on her kneecaps, and her other hand grasping at her chest, trying to control her rising heart beat. Miyuki didn't like the forest or the gypsy woman or the scary cabin. She just wants to go home back to Tokyo to vending machines, high rise buildings, and banana pancakes.
But she soon gathers up the courage and enters the wooden cabin, albeit very slowly, and as soon as she goes in, her eyes survey the entire room, amazed.
Wow!From nutcrackers to tarot card packs, the trinkets are neatly placed on tables and shelves. Weapons in baskets, from scimitars to axes, populates the vast space that is the gypsy's home. Antique picture frames of different and varying sizes fills the walls, from known artists to undeniable unknowns, but a strange empty spot on the wall creates a noticeable void. A single king-sized bed is on the far end of the large room, draped with silk, right by a sizable fireplace.
This is the gypsy's home.
The woman places candles throughout the room sporadically and illuminates them with a matchstick, her hands trembling as she did. She then kindles the fireplace, chucking wood into the flames, and soon sits down in front of a round table, a lone crystal ball resting on the tabletop. She looks at them invitingly, telling the pair silently to sit on the chairs in front of her.
They comply, almost instantly, and sit down on the chairs in front of the crystal ball and the gypsy. There is only silence as the woman looks at them, sizing them up, before the gypsy's lips upturn into a smirk, making the pair uneasy.
"Let's start with introductions.",the gypsy says sultrily, arms crossed,"You first.",she finishes.
The two look at each other before Miyuki gestures her to go first. Sayaka clears her throat to speak.
"Yamamoto Sayaka.",Sayaka says before she bows slightly.
"Your mother is pretty good at names Sayaka.",the gypsy says, smirking wildly.
Sayaka looks at her cautiously,"I gave myself this name.",Sayaka says but the gypsy didn't seem surprised, it's as if she knows everything about her.
"Oh really? You're pretty good.",the gypsy says,"What's your real name then?"
Sayaka stays silent, unwilling to give an answer, but purses her lips, and relents,"I don't know. I don't know my real name."
The gypsy raises her eyebrow,"Orphan?",she asks.
Sayaka reluctantly nods her head, the girl beside her surprised. The woman smiles, her eyes glinting with mischievousness and asks the other what her name is.
"Miyuki. Watanabe Miyuki.",she says as she slightly bows.
The woman didn't answer or have a reaction, just staring blankly at the girl. Miyuki feels uneasy, her hands sweating in anticipation.
"So you're her.",the gypsy says, staying silent again for a few seconds,"Give her my regards.",she says, her words cryptic.
Miyuki gulps.
I have to get out of here!"So now that's done, I'll introduce myself. My name is Tano.",she says, not bowing like the pair.
"Is that your whole name?",Sayaka asks.
"That's the name you are to call me. You don't need to know the rest.",she says sassily."But you don't need to know it anyway. You came here for something other than introductions am I correct?"
The visitors both nod, remembering why they were here.
"So let's get on with it.",she says before she stands up, causing the pair to stand up as well, and moves towards the king-sized bed.
Miyuki grabs the back of Sayaka's shirt helplessly. Sayaka looks at her wondering what is going on and Miyuki just stares at her pleadingly,"C-Can I go out?",she says, her voice trembling.
Sayaka couldn't stand to see the girl like this and just nods, letting Miyuki go out of the creepy wooden cabin.
The door shut softly.
I'm alone now. I wanna get this over with.She follows Tano towards the bed, cautious of the woman before her, and stands a considerable amount from the woman.
"Come closer.",Tano says, gesturing at Sayaka."You'll see it here."
Sayaka reluctantly compiles, coming closer to Tano.
The gypsy points at a small figure behind her bed.
What is that?But then Sayaka realizes what it was. A dead body, fresh, not old enough to leave a smell.
One maybe two days it has been there and Sayaka gulps, now knowing she is dealing with a murder.
"She came here with a warrant. She was to tear this forest down.",the gypsy starts,"They say don't kill the messenger. But I guess I'm not too good at following orders.", she says ending with a smirk,"And I'm sure more people will come, wondering why she disappeared. So I'm counting on you.",she finishes.
"S-So what do you want me to do?",Sayaka asks.
The gypsy named Tano only smiles at her, making Sayaka guess.
"I have to prove that it's not murder?",she says and Tano nods slightly.
"I heard about your reputation. You have good standing with the police. They'll trust you.",Tano says.
"But I've only worked in Kyoto and Tokyo.",Sayaka says,"Not in Namba.",she finishes but her statement made Tano smirk again for the nth time. Tano gets closer to Sayaka and whispers in her ear.
"Word gets around Sayaka-san. I've heard about the good things you've done...but also the bad things. And also, I know you also worked in Nagoya.",she says before giggling a bit and moving away from the other girl. She turns around and walks to the table with the crystal ball and sits down nonchalantly, pulling out a cracker from her pocket and eating it,"I think they'll be here soon. Hang tight."
Sayaka stands frozen from Tano's words, looking at the dead body in a business suit.
A loud knock then resonates throughout the whole cabin, shaking it in the process.
"Namba police. Come out now!",a voice yelled from outside."We've got your friend here!"
They must mean Miyuki!Sayaka bolts out from her spot and runs to the door, opening it hastily. A tall and buff man stands before her, holding Miyuki by the collar, who seemed calm about the situation. Weird.
"You are on suspicion of murder. I have a warrant to search your house.",the man says, his voice deep and husky.
"Then by all means.",Tano says from behind Sayaka, greeting the rude man,"Come in.",she finishes.
The man drops Miyuki on the ground, dusting his hands off on his uniform, and goes in.
Tano immediately goes to Miyuki's aid, faster than Sayaka, and helps her up. Sayaka's face twitches a little at the scene and Tano smiles mischievously back at her. Miyuki looks at Sayaka, looking scared out of her mind,"I'll be in the car.",she says before leaving the pair alone at the doorway. Tano turns toward Sayaka,who is still watching Miyuki walk towards the car.
"Come. You have to prove my innocence. He'll find her soon.",she orders, gesturing for Sayaka to go in the house. Sayaka breaks her stare and enters the house.
____
"You are under arrest!",the tall man bellows, before pulling out handcuffs from his jacket pocket.
But looking at the hand-cuffs, Tano could only smirk again,"I'm not going to jail.",she says calmly.
The man's face changes, he looks even scarier than before, making Sayaka feel uneasy.
What the heck is wrong with me these days? Why am I getting all soft and scared?
"Is this resisting arrest!?",the man yells at Tano, getting closer to the gypsy, and looking down on her.
Tano looks up at the scary man,"Arrest for what? I haven't done any wrong.",she says, feigning innocence.
The man chuckles heartily, holding his belly,"You actually think you're innocent? Minegeshi's body is right there behind your bed! You must've killed her!",he exclaims."Now come before I give you more charges.",he says before cuffing her hands.
"Do you know of Yamamoto Sayaka?",Tano asks the man before he arrests her.
"Of course! Greatest detective of all time! Better than Holmes they say. But personally I don't believe that.",he says while cuffing her hands.
"You see that girl over there with the short hair?",Tano says, her wrists uncomfortable with the handcuffs.
The man looks at Sayaka, standing attention at the scene.
"Yeah? Why? Did she help you kill her?",he asks, getting paranoid.
Tano shakes her head."No she didn't. But she's here to prove my innocence.",the gypsy says.
The man raises an eyebrow, curious,"So is she your detecti—"
"She's Yamamoto Sayaka.",Tano interjects.
His mouth is left wide open, shocked and surprised.
Sayaka bows to the man,"Hello I'm Yamamoto Sayaka.",she introduces.
"Hello M-My n-name i-is—"
"It don't matter what your name is.",the gypsy interrupts."Sayaka tell him."
Sayaka looks to the star-struck man,"She's innocent.",she says.
The man gets a bearing of himself, clears his throat, and asks her why.
"The evidence is clear. She must be the suspect.",the man says.
"Let me explain.",Sayaka says,"Although it's presumptuous."
She steps forward towards the cuffed gypsy and the uniformed man. She hands the man a worn-down book to which Tano panics looking at. She tries to get out but her cuffed hands hindered her attempt.
"Stop moving.",he says before looking at the contents.
It's the gypsy's diary, filled with her secrets and inner desires. But when Sayaka found it, it is completely opposite of what she thought it is. It contains her secrets yes but what secrets?
"My favorite flavor is Vanilla...I sometimes snore...my left toe is bigger than my right.",he says before closes the book with a bang,"What is this?",he says holding it up, irritated.
Tano covers her face with her hands, embarrassed at the situation.
"Her diary.",Sayaka says,"And as you can see, there is no mention of the murder."
"But this doesn't prove she didn't do it.",he says.
"I know it doesn't.",Sayaka says before smiling mischievously at Tano. She is still clearly mad at the scene that happened a few minutes ago outside with Milky.
Petty"Please don't waste my time then please.",the man says,"Do you have a real argument?"
"Oh yes I do.",Sayaka says, perking up, and asks the man,"What do you think this room is missing sir?"
The man thinks for a second.
"I don't know. What is it?",the man says.
"Look around sir.",she says.
The man looks around the wood cabin, trying to spot what Sayaka is saying. He looks at the trinkets on the tables and the weapons in the baskets (Which by the way is very suspicious in of itself.). He even looks at the lit candles and the covered up windows. But he couldn't quite seem to point it out.
"I don't see a thing. What are you talking about?",he asks, getting more impatient.
"I think you forgot to look at the walls sir.",Sayaka says.
He looks, spotting the empty space in the wall, where most likely a painting was at.
"There's a missing painting on the wall. Whether that's deliberate, I don't know, but it gives me a lead.",Sayaka says, looking at the spot with him.
"So what's your point?"
"My point is that there is a weird spot on the wall and the picture is gone. We have to find that frame.",she says, crossing her arms, her dominance showing.
The man looks at Tano, questioning her with his stare.
Tano points at the ground below her at the wooden planks.
"It must be under there.",Sayaka says.
The man pushes the gypsy away onto the bed before he punches the floor with a loud noise.
Sayaka gets closer to the hole to get a good look. She sees a golden frame, looking more expensive than all the other paintings. The man takes it out of the ground.
They all see a blood stain on the bottom of the frame.
Tano sighs, faking resignation.
"She was looking at it after she showed me the warrant and it fell onto her. Her head cracked and blood gushed out, I couldn't save her.",Tano says with a trembling voice before she puts her face into her hands, pretending to be sad, but really just hiding her smile.
"That can't be true! She's lying! She probably used it as a weapon!",the man stubbornly says.
"I believe her.",Sayaka says, playing her role.
"What! Really? Can't you see it's a lie?!",he yells at the stoic Sayaka with a tough look.
"I believe her because what she says is factual. If you don't see it, I can't believe you can call yourself a police. How many innocents have you jailed huh!?",she yells, raising her voice, trying to make the man scared and in a way, it's working.
"I-I haven't jailed any innocents! If you're so adamant that what she says it's true. Prove it!",he says unconvincingly.
She's bought herself some time.
"My pleasure.",Sayaka says as she smiles.
She gets even closer to the golden picture frame and examines it. She smiles, knowing it's checkmate.
"This picture frame did fall onto Minegeshi's head.",Sayaka explains."She's couldn't have."
"And why is that?",he asks.
"Her physique isn't big or strong sir and she isn't that tall either.",Sayaka starts.
"Soooooo..."
"So if she did swing it, it'd have been very slow and weak. She couldn't have done it. If you want to arrest something Mr. Police Man, arrest gravity."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"I'm sorry!",the man bows a full 90 degree angle.
Sayaka and Tano's bodies releases all the tension, glad they're in the clear.
"Call the ambulance, tell them we've got a dead body.",Sayaka says.
He nods, standing up straight, and pulls out his phone before calling the ambulance.
Sayaka goes to the cuffed Tano.
"You're all good now."
"Thanks.",the gypsy says gratefully before she again, smirks.
____
"Thank you sir.",Sayaka says, standing with Tano at the front of the cabin. The ambulance is ready to go to the hospital, waiting for the policeman's word.
"No problem.",he says before he turns around to go to his police car.
He looks back and says,"Don't get in anymore trouble Ms.Tano Yuka. Namba police will be watching you!"
The pair watch him drive off with the ambulance following him.
"Soooo. Your first name is Yuka?",Sayaka starts.
"Shut up.",she says before she enters her wooden cabin forcefully.
Sayaka follows her,"Aren't you forgetting something?",she says, closing the door behind her.
Tano turns around,"What do you suppose I'm forgetting?",she asks,raising an eyebrow over the question.
"I just saved your ass.",Sayaka says,"Give me answers."
Tano gives a look of understanding before she sits again at the round table with crystal ball on top of it, a deja-vu moment from an hour ago when Sayaka first arrived.
Sayaka sits down at the chair.
"So what do you want to know?",Tano asks, her legs on the table, as she takes out crackers from her pocket, eating them nonchalantly.
"How did she die?",Sayaka asks, leaning forward, curious.
"Minegeshi? Oh I bashed her head in with the butt of that sword over there.",she says, pointing to the weapon basket.
"Then what's with that picture frame?"
"That's from another woman a while ago. I vaguely remember but she was a con artist trying to scam me for some of my trinkets. And let's just say, I rigged it to fall on her head.",she says before she smiles evilly.
Sayaka purses her lips, kind of nervous, again realizing that this woman is a murderer. She stand up and bows.
"Thank you for your patronage. P.I Blues will be glad to have you again!"
The gypsy just watches her.
Awkward"Well if you don't mind, I'll be taking my leave now.",Sayaka says before bowing again slightly and turning around to exit.
"You're not going anywhere.",the woman behind Sayaka says.
Sayaka tenses up, feeling like this was going to happen.
She could hear the sound of the chair pulling back and footsteps getting closer.
Sayaka, ready to fight for her life, turns around and tries to land a punch on the woman but the woman just dodges and lifts her hand up in protest.
"Whoa whoa whoa! What are you doing?",Tano yells, holding a present in her hand.
Sayaka gulps, realizing she's done wrong,"I'm sorry!",she yells, bowing.
"It's fine. I know I'm creepy.",Tano says, giving attention to the present in her hand.
"I-Is that for me?",she says as she points to herself.
"Yeah, you saved my ass.",Tano says, smiling as she lifts her hand out, offering the present to Sayaka.
Sayaka takes the present gratefully and bows slightly.
"Be safe.",Tano says, waving goodbye.
"I will.",Sayaka says, turning around again to exit. She unlocks the door and tries to exit but the knob is stuck. She sighs at her misfortune.
I can't believe this.
She then notices the silence around her, it is weird.
...
...
...
"Watch out."
A sword comes flying down towards her but Sayaka felt the wind behind her move and dodges out of the way, the sword getting stuck in the door.
Sayaka turns around, meeting a scimitar wielding murdering gypsy woman with red eyes (What a description!).
"What are you doing!?",Sayaka yells, fearful for her life. She sets into a battle stance, ready to fight the crazed woman.
The woman gets the sword unstuck, ready to fight.
"Thank you for your service! But I have to kill you now!",Tano yells, raising the sword into a overhead attack.
Sayaka again dodges out of the woman's way. The gypsy's strikes were clumsy. It must've been due to her shaky hands.
Tano lunges forward towards Sayaka, sword point towards her, like a fencer.
Sayaka panics and pulls out a sword from one of the weapon baskets and parries the strike quickly, her heart beat rising to dangerous amounts. She looks at her sword, wondering what she pulled out.
Katana. This could work.Adrenaline pumping. Hearts in sync. Their eyes focusing. Their footwork mesmerizing.
They make a mess out of the cabin, paintings are falling, the crystal ball shattering with the swing of the scimitar, and different trinkets are getting cut in half. They just go at it, parrying each other's strikes, their swordsmanship showing.
Tano is surprised. She didn't think Sayaka knew how to use a sword. She miscalculated.
Tano panics and her sword is knocked out of her hands. She immediately raises her hands in defeat as Sayaka puts the blade of her sword towards her neck.
"I'm not going to ask nor am I going to kill you.",Sayaka says, her voice angry."But you better leave now."
Tano nods before running out of the cabin, afraid at the woman who just defeated her in a sword fight.
Sayaka sighs at the woman and looks at her sword. She didn't think she'd be able to hold a sword again, but her hand trembles even holding it. She drops the sword in disgust and wipes her hand on her clothes.
Her hand is shaking.
NagoyaShe remembers the cries of pain and the fire.
She shakes her head, knocking the memories out of her head. She didn't want to remember.
But other than that, she had someone to talk to.
She pulls out her phone and dials a number. The phone rang a few before a voice popped up saying hi.
"WHERE THE HECK DID YOU SEND US?!"
_____
"Did she finish the job?",a woman's sultry voice asks.
"No she failed.",another voice answered, her hand on the phone, talking to her supervisor.
The subordinate could hear her boss sigh.
"Come back. Let's plan again from there."
TBC
Topic: Welcome to 48 Bar! P.I Blues (SayaMilky) — Only A Small Lead (Read 39689 times)