#foolsopen

So, someone else was dead. The news didn’t particularly faze Yua. It meant, at least, that her safety was guaranteed for a little while, until the killer was executed and the cycle of murder could begin again. At the beginning, she’d considered murder, planned it, even. She’d known how easy it would be to get the contortionist or the volleyball player or the blogger to trust her, to get them alone in some secluded part of the castle, and then slit their throats. 

But she’d missed her chance. Now that she was marked as a witch, the others all suspected her, and even though she'd kept her friends, suspicion would be on her the moment anyone died who had anything to do with her. 

She wasn’t sure she’d have been able to go through with it, anyway. To plan to murder one of her friends, to justify it to herself, that was easy. To actually do it, she suspected, was something that was beyond her. She probably wouldn’t have been able to do it, she decided. She was many things, but Yua Kaneshiro, at heart, was not a cold-blooded killer. 

And so another falls.

It’s become so commonplace that it’s hard to even pretend to be surprised. The victim too, unsurprising. This silly fellow had even taken it upon himself to personally show off how weak he was in the trial. It probably would’ve barely taken a real blow to end him. Jinsei Yuuhara... she’d never ended up speaking to him much. He shared that in common with most of the other victims. Rinko took a breath and then prepared herself for what was fast becoming the grind around these parts though it was an odd thing to get used to. She glances at the information found on the file and tilts her head. This time it’s a broken neck... well it seems this body isn’t as gory as the others. That’s at least something. Or maybe it isn’t. It’s mostly likely too early to tell such a thing, anyway.

"Yuuhara-shi did not deserve this.” Rinko frowns. She always does these little speeches, doesn’t she? Well, it’s deserved, she wagers. Those who have passed on deserve respect. “We should all be better than this. Dark secrets can make people do dark things, this is true, but it is inexcusable all the same. We will fight for Yuuhara-shi’s justice and the culprit will pay for their crimes.”

She glances around, wondering who exactly would be willing to tag along before just striding on ahead. Maybe someone would help out later on. “You are always free to help me find this justice.” she adds, as if to make that part clear.

A  lot had happened. 

The fact that there were three deaths..four, if he were to count Reiji, and five if he were to include Tsukiko-san in the fray. Two of which he was rather frond of, one he was irritated by, and another who he had not understood at all, followed by one he didn't even get to speak to. 

Sadness, anger, fear--he could feel those if he wanted to, but instead the main thing that swept over Nao was fatigue. He was tired of it all, tired of death, and he wanted to go home even though he knew he never could. This feeling, this, felt like what Monobear's goal truly was--hopelessness. 

But of course, that was all internal! On the outside he managed to conjure up a sad, yet sincere smile in it all--until they were all called to the Mystic Room. 

The picture of Yua, in his opinion, was devastating. He didn't really know who's "side" to be on, anymore. Yet, Monobear did mention it was before the whole memory situation... did the others do something similar, or was it just a lie? Either way, the photo was not  a welcoming one... and in a flash, it was torn to shreds.

Then, the bear continued on, stating that each one of the available boxes had a secret in it. Oh.

What?!

Ooooh no. No. No way. Nu-uh, negative. No. If there were nine boxes, and each had a secret.. there was a possibility that he wouldn't get his own, and..

In a flurry, he bolted over there and picked a random box, then practically zoomed out of there into the nearby hallway, close to the stairs. He would move further, but he was anxious to see which one it was.

Carefully, with clammed hands, he unlocked the box and opened it--

It wasn't his.

It wasn't his!

The box shut with a loud slam and he bit down into his lip enough for it to trickle some blood, before burying his face into his knees. "Uuugh..." Instead of sitting there for long, however, he flopped to his side, eyes glossed with threatening tears, and slowly came to a rise. "U-UuurrAAGGH! D-DAMMIT!" He punched the stone wall with his free hand, kicked it, kicked it again, and glared at it. "A-Aaagh.."

So that's what it's come to, has it?

Secrets.  A low blow, but she's come to expect such cowardly maneuvers from the bear. Still, it is a point of concern, how can it not be? It's not just the secrets in boxes bothering her it's that photo of Yua Kaneshiro too. That girl really is dangerous...

The polite thing to do, the righteous thing, is to leave all the boxes alone and not play this game at all but the smart thing to do is to keep informed and as such... the kunoichi takes one and reads over her new found information. She quirks an eyebrow, keeping her feelings on the written vague before deciding perhaps there is something to be done here.

She clears her throat for attention before speaking in her usual crisp voice, confident and without any sign of distress.

"If you want to exchange information you can find me in the Meeting Room."

And that's as simple as it is in her mind.

The appeal of the treasure room was rapidly beginning to wear off, Himeko was finding. The corpses they had found in here were one thing, of course -- dreadful, and enough to tarnish the safe nature of the place in her mind. Pulling out a chisel, a huge book, and a foil-wrapped stick of vaguely suspect looking chicken from chests so grand is another.

It goes directly in the bin after only a cursory nibble; as for the other two gifts, well -- she has an idea of who might like them, but right now, so shortly after the mess of a trial... she can't summon the energy to be a generous, giving soul. All she wants to do is be by herself, the way it's always been. So she takes her items, and explores, looking to find a little solitude.

One of the rooms upstairs provides the perfect place.

When she comes up to the library, laying her eyes on the walls and walls of books and the content within... she looks like a child on Christmas morning. Every book she runs her fingers over, pulls out to leaf through, is a beautiful story, a wonderful dream. She picks one out, then sets herself to the maze of bookshelves until she finds a solitary little corner hemmed in by shelves on all sides; she's not visible from the entrance at all, just the way she wants it.

Himeko sits down, skirts pooling on the floor around her, and immerses herself in a land better than this, for a while -- her lips form around the words, as her eyes follow them.

"...'But we must part', said the young man, 'your brother does not like our engagement, and therefore he sends me so far away on business, over mountains and seas. Farewell, sweet bride, for you are so dear to me...'"

The wicked are always truly wicked in tales, the good always truly good. There was no crying, no moral quandary -- no wondering whether you did the right thing if you pushed the button.

Mika Tsukiko's demise was an odd thing she had trouble putting into words. In a sense, a sick one, she understood it well enough. But on the other hand it bothered her. Someone who put themself ahead of anyone... their desires, their friends, their revenge... that sort of path had no appeal. There was no honour in the search of such selfish gains.

Three deaths and what had been achieved? Nothing. Although one death was not the fault of Mika herself. That wasn't the only thing weighing on her mind. There was also the matter of Yua Kaneshiro. Were they really going to let her just walk around here freely after she was outed as a traitor? Perhaps she'd try to work some charisma and get the girl locked up somehow. That's what you did with those who broke the law and those who tarnished the honour of the group. It made sense in her mind but if it came down to a vote that was. Difficult. Perhaps it wouldn't go in her favour. Especially not with Chiyoko fighting with her every step of the way. What a nightmare.

Well, there's no use dwelling in the past. Well wishes weren't going to bring back Masumi Hirai, Katsuie Hagane, Risa Koezukuri and Mika Tsukiko. Or even Reiji Eguchi. Nor even Shizue Ariga and Kaho Tsukuda. God, how many of them were dead now? Were people so easily corrupted? Obviously, but she didn't expect it to happen... so quickly. And perhaps for once, that puts an emotion on her face that isn't composed smugness. Apprehension.

As the new area opens she is only too glad to have something new to waste her time with. It's as she's exploring that she lets loose a low whistle in realisation of just how dangerous this area can become what with the lack of rails and other such fun things. She'll have to keep that in mind. All the rooms have points of interest but it's the potion storage that fascinates her the most. What exactly is this area about? She wastes no time in nosing around only stopping (and even then only somewhat) when she hears something. Or rather, someone.

"Fascinating, isn't it." she states in a rhetoric fashion as someone enters. How did she always know when someone entered? Maybe that was due to being someone who specialised in stealth. Or perhaps it was just a way to keep people at bay regardless of whether they were there or not, just on the off-chance. It was always rather hard to tell what was on her mind.

It was a day like any other--or at least that is what he assumed it would be. The usual waking up, taking a so-called bath and entertaining oneself the best they can--hoping someone would find them. Small talk was his best friend at the moment; anything to take his mind off of the game.

Then--it happened. a loud wail and the roar of footsteps. He had almost left with his jacket half-off due to the loudness of the commotion.

With his puppet, rat and now plush in tow, he ran, holding down the toy so it wouldn't tumble to the floor.

Then there it was--the sight that made this day entirely abnormal. Katsuie Hagane and Risa Koezukuri, lifeless. Some were crying, others were already looking over the body, and some just left entirely. 

He was one of the ones who left entirely, heading down past the bodies and to the Stables. He looked toward the floor instead of straight ahead as tears stung the side of his eyes in anger. It was about halfway to the stables where he finally raised his head and continued to move. As soon as he entered the room he sat right down in the same spot as beforehand.

Being greeted with a dead body was not an everyday thing, not even for a less than everyday person such as Rinko Kirigakure. Let alone two dead bodies which was. Well. Grim.

Hm.

Taking a look at the files and collecting herself she frowns at the pertinent information. Well, well, well, there were already some interesting things to be seen. Risa had died first by quite some time... and... heart failure? As in, a heart attack? Perhaps that indicated a poison. That was something she had some familiarity on. Well looking at the information on its own would do her no good so she stretches her arms out and then prepares herself to move. It was time to get this underway.

"Koezukuri-shi and Hagane-shi, though I did not know them, deserve peace and justice. We would find more if we worked together. You two," she points vaguely to the pink-haired menace from before and her former roomie. Ex-roomie, that was an odd relationship to have with someone. Better than her current roommate though, who was dead. "you seem free. Shall we depart? There's a lot to do. Let's put aside petty contrivances to get this done."