I flew to the Bamboo forest, to see Tewi playing with the other rabbits, and feeding them.

"Tewi! Bad news!"

"Ah, Aya? What is it?"

"It's... Reisen."

"What's wrong with her?"

"She's... She's not coming back." I said it the lamest way possible.

"What do you mean, she's not coming back!?"

I sighed, and showed her the photos I secretly took before taking Reisen's body to Patchouli.

"T... This is her? Aya-San... Is it really?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you earlier."

"It's OK... I just need... I just need time to think."

A few seconds later, after she cried down she spoke again. "It's my fault."

"Pardon me? But the culprit is--"

"We both had an argument a couple of hours ago, I think... 2 hours before midnight. I couldn't stand her always treating me like a kid but... I still haven't apologized yet!" She cried louder afterwards.

I noted down her statement, and I noticed that she's barefooted. But nah, she's not the culprit since her hair's not brownish.

"Did you know where she went after your argument?"

"She said that she went to investigate Chen. Maybe you can ask Chen for more?"

"Chen?"

"I don't know either, but Chen had been acting strange too."

Maybe I should talk to Chen... But that means I had to talk with Ran as well for permission to interrogate that Cat.

I flew to Yukari's home, and knocked on the door. Chen answered.

"Ah...? Aya-San, what brings you here this late?"

"There's something that I need to ask you, Chen. Have you seen Reisen a couple of hours ago?"

"Yes. What's going on with her?"

"Reisen's... Gone. Have you heard anything strange after speaking with her?"

"I don't remember much, but I made this new friend of mine near the river a few days back. Want me to tell you about her?"

"Maybe next time, Chen... And why are you barefooted?"

"Huh? Well, I'm indoors, I had to take off my shoes or Ran-Sama will scold me." I couldn't help but doubt her a little...

"Alright then." I said, before leaving, and Chen closed the door.

I noted Chen as the next suspect, and she fits most of the culprit's profile. Chen is barefooted, had brown hair and a fang, since she's a cat Youkai.

Maybe I need to reinvestigate the rock where I found Reisen's corpse again?

I headed back to the Youkai Forest to see Momiji snooping around the rock.

"Momiji, what are you doing at this hour?" I asked her.

"Well, I heard Reisen's been murdered so I came by to investigate the matter, like you did, Aya-San."

"There doesn't seem to be anymore clues here, Momiji. Oh yeah, where were you during the time of the murder? You weren't at home."

"I was dating with Kagerou-San... Well, literally. We hunted wild rabbits together, but we failed."

"What happened next?"

"I don't know, but I remember that I passed out."

"Passed out? Tell me more, Momiji."

"I don't know, I looked at the moon like Kagerou-San did, and I blacked out. I woke up again an hour ago inside the Forest."

"Oh yeah, how did you know that I'm investigating Reisen?"

"Hatate-San told me."

"I see, well then. I should be off talking with Kagerou. Where did you last saw her?"

"Ah, speak of the devil. She's behind you."

"Ah, the crow tengu! It's nice to meet you here in the night of the Full moon!" I gulped and turn around.

There's Kagerou, wearing her outfit in a questionable way. Must've been the moon's effects on her.

"W... What a coincidence, Kagerou-San. Mind if I ask a couple of questions?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Did you see Reisen a couple of hours ago?"

"No. I never met her a couple of hours ago."

"Anything else you want to tell me about? Reisen's murdered."

"Nothing.... Why are you staring at my feet? Attracted to them?"

"Not at all! Why are you barefooted!? And clean those sand from them!" I shouted. Kagerou-San just chuckled back.

"Well, it kinda itched me if I wore my shoes when I'm a wolf, so for once I took them off. The sand from the lake's shore really did a number to them."

"You're at the lake? Did you witness anything?"

"That's... Well, forget I said anything about the lake. I was just fishing, that's all."

"Stay with us at home for the rest of the night. Would you want that?" I asked her.

"My, I might as well accept this offer. I want to deepen my bonds with Momiji."

I glanced at Momiji, who looked away.

They went ahead first. This case is just getting harder and harder... There's not enough evidence as to who is the culprit.

It's either Chen or Kagerou. And it's only going to be one of them

- To Be Continued