Detective Masakuma waited patiently inside the room he had been using to conduct interrogations last week. He sipped on his third coffee of the day when the door then opened up. Isamu entered with Ayame and Senji following right behind. Katashi's eyebrows shot up in visible confusion. He looked to Isamu then to the teens then back at Isamu. He shook his head, pressing two fingers to his temple.
"Isamu... I specifically requested the girl only. Why is he here too?" Katashi asked.
"Well, he refused to stay behind. Said he should be with her. I guess they're dating. So... He also wants to be here to speak with you too." Isamu explained.
Katashi groaned. He begrudgingly accepted this outcome, gesturing for Ayame to sit down.
"Fine. Only got one chair for her though so you're standing kid."
Senji nodded quietly. Ayame took her seat in front of the detective. Isamu just closed the door and just leaned against it. Katashi shuffled his papers then focused his attention on Ayame. Her cold eyes meeting his tired gaze.
"Alright then. Ayame Chisato... Do you know why I requested to speak with you? At all?"
Ayame shook her head without saying a word.
"Well after analyzing every...single...damn...student and staff member in this entire school I had come to a stump. Initially. That is until I dug a little further. Into your responses. You... Clearly show worrying signs of social distance, parental neglect, subtle resentment or carelessness towards others and lack of emotional connections. Except of course to this young man here. All my time in this field you share eerily similar traits to that of several individuals who've ended up behind bars or six feet under. Criminals I've apprehended or assisted in capturing or uncovering. What I'm trying to say is... And I'm going to be blunt about this... These murders seem very likely to be carried out by someone that shares your traits and personality."
Ayame remained quiet. The tension in the room could be cut with a knife. Isamu felt uncomfortable as did Senji who's heart was pounding.
"Is... That so?" Ayame murmured.
"In my honest opinion... Yes. Ayame Chisato be honest with me. Are you responsible for the murders?"
The room was silent. Senji wondered what she would say. Would she confess? Would she lie through her teeth? It was eating away at his conscious. Katashi leaned forward slightly, hands cupped together on the table. Ayame closed her eyes. Images flashed of every girl she had killed. Brief flashbacks to their moments of untimely demise by her hands. One-by-one how each body was brought to that old church and disposed of under the trap door. As if the months spent committing these atrocities had all whizzed by in the blink of an eye. Detective Masakuma was a veteran. There was no way she would be able to lie directly to his face. Her eyes opened up.
"I am... It was me." Ayame spoke softly.
Isamu's jaw dropped. Senji gasped cupping a hand over his mouth. In Katashi's eyes there was an ounce of pain. Sorrow. He sat back in his seat, pressing a hand to his forehead and shaking his head. This is what he feared the most.
"You're... Telling the truth. Fuck..." He muttered.
His tone almost sounded disappointed yet heartbroken. In all of his years as a detective, dealing with many disturbing and terrible cases, this was the first one that had truly brought him a sense of grief.
"I-it's not entirely her fault sir!" Senji blurted out.
Isamu and Katashi immediately glared at the boy following his outburst.
"I know this looks bad. Ayame... S-she's a victim. Neglect. Abuse. Tragedy. Constantly plagued by a growing darkness inside of her heart that pushed her to this. I know her story. She's suffered so much. Before we met she had no one. Not anymore at least. I know that deep down inside under that darkness there is a good soul. A soul that just needed love and attention. She's only human, like the rest of us. S-so don't go thinking that she's a heartless monster because that's just not true..."
The three of them remained quiet. Ayame just shrugged her shoulders, slumping down in her chair. Isamu looked away and crossed his arms. Katashi glanced at the girl. Then he looked up at Senji with sullen eyes.
"So she told you, huh?" Katashi asked.
"I- Yeah... She did. I-I'm sorry I kept it to myself. I just... Didn't have the heart to go running to you guys or the police and say anything. I love her..."
Isamu's expression showed that of compassion. This was a situation he had never expected to find himself in. Katashi coughed.
"It's okay. I get it. Not gonna' punish you for harboring that. But fuck you're in... One hell of a situation here kid... Sheesh."
Senji felt his heart breaking into pieces. Ayame turned her head, giving Senji a side glance at her face. She looked hollow inside having just confessed.
"Ugh. Well I... Fuck. I hate to break it to you but this is how monsters are created. People who got dealt a bad hand in life. They either strive to improve their life, suffer before committing suicide... Or becoming consumed by that ever-engulfing darkness and twisting them into a monster. Either way you slice it... She's guilty. And she's going to face punishment for it. I hope you understand that miss Chisato." Katashi explained now narrowing his gaze onto Ayame.
Senji felt tears streaking down his face. He wrapped his arms around Ayame.
"I'm sorry..." He sobbed, resting his head on her shoulder.
Ayame reached a hand up to gently stroke his hair. Isamu breathed an audible sigh. He stepped over to Katashi, leaning down and resting a hand on the table, looking at the detective.
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"The media will have a firestorm with this. The public's reaction is going to be ugly. How should we go about this? Do we just take her to the station undercover? She's a minor too so she'll have to face juvenile sentencing." Isamu spoke softly. "Maybe... We keep this under wraps until the court hearing."
"That's what I was thinking. We escort her out to the car then drive to the station. Keep her there. I'll have to speak to the judge at the town's courthouse. This stays private until further notice." Katashi responded coldly.
"Gotcha' sir."
Isamu stood back up firmly to look at the teens. He felt a knot in his stomach and took a deep breath.
"Hey kiddo. What are you wanting to do? If you want to come with, we'll have to contact your parents first. I uh... See you clearly don't want to be away from her since she's your partner and all." He explained.
Ayame wiped the tears from his eyes. He looked up at the officer and just nodded. Isamu nodded back.
"Can we just... Stop by my house? Tell my mother what all is going on?" Senji asked.
"Sure. You can ride in back with the girl. At the very least we can give you that before we have to separate you two."
Senji nodded, accepting his answer.
The four had exited the school building before a car pulled up to the curbside. A distressed woman hurriedly stepped out of the car and ran up to the group, stopping in place at the sight of Ayame. Senji couldn't believe his eyes. It was her aunt, Usagi. The woman appeared more 'cleaned up' then before. Her hair was straightened. The purple dress and black heels she wore were tidy and neat. Her makeup was even done but her eyes clearly showed a lack of sleep and panic.
"W-wait! Wait! You can't take her!" Usagi cried out, her hands outstretched.
They all showed visible confusion. Senji knew who it was. She glanced at him for a split second but focused mainly on Katashi and Isamu.
"Ma'am? Um, who are you?" Isamu asked.
"My name is Usagi Chisato. I-I'm Ayame's aunt. Her legal guardian..."
Suddenly Isamu and Katashi's eyes widened up. She seemed an enigma to the two of them after hearing Ayame's words from the interrogation as well as her confession.
"Excuse me?? You're... Her aunt?" Katashi asked.
"Yes! You can't take her away! Take me instead!"
"Huh??"
Senji was just as confused as the others. Even Ayame looked surprised.
"Everything... Was kept from me before. But last night Ayame told me everything. And I'll admit I had a little... Episode. A panic attack if you will. I went to my room and remained in there for the rest of the night. Admittedly I did drink until I passed out. But listen to me please! It's all my fault okay? This is all... My fault."
Tears started streaking down Usagi's cheeks as she fell to her knees. Isamu nodded to Katashi and knelt down in front of Usagi to face her.
"Calm down ma'am. Please, explain." He said in a calming tone.
Usagi wiped her eyes but the tears kept flowing and staining her dress.
"I... I... I've been a horrible excuse of a guardian. All these years I've treated Ayame so poorly. I never saw the signs... My brother's own daughter is a murderer and it's all my fault! I deserve to be locked up not her! I've failed her and now I'm paying the price... Goddamn it!" Usagi sobbed.
Katashi sighed, shaking his head.
"I... See. Listen ma'am please... I'm sorry but she's responsible for her actions and must atone for her sins. We can't just let her go and take you instead when you're innocent. I get that you feel responsible for her actions and it's good to see you owning up to that. But the law is the law and we can't change that."
"I would take full responsibility for this. I-I would do anything... Just so this poor girl doesn't have to suffer..." Usagi wept. "Please!"
Katashi left Ayame's side and approached Usagi. He knelt down next to her and Isamu, pressing a hand on her shoulder. He looked to Isamu.
"Well fuck. It's just one surprise after another today huh? Look ma'am I can... Admire? Your care for the girl but we just can't do that-.
"Just... Stop... Please."
They looked to Ayame who had spoken up after being quiet all this time.
"Let my aunt... Live with the guilt. I'll be fine. Maybe... I do need help. Senji... Has been helping me. Keeping my... Sanity at bay. I-I knew that this day was coming so forget it Usagi. I know that Senji will wait for me... And that's all I care about." Ayame spoke before pulling Senji in close for an embrace.
Usagi let out a deep sigh. Isamu felt relieved. Katashi stood back up.
"I rest my case. You'll be speaking in her defense then at the coming trial. As will you young man. Unfortunately though justice will be served. Either the public will despise her or sympathize with her. Maybe the latter since she's just a teenager. Either way this isn't being swayed. Ain't going to just shift the consequences onto you and lie to the public. They... Deserve their closure after all. Now come on let's go. Miss Usagi you're more then welcome to meet us at the station but we're stopping somewhere on the way."
"I... Okay. I'll go there." Usagi replied.
"Understood."
Senji and Ayame shuffled into the backseats of Katashi's car. He and Isamu got in, flipping on some tunes to play for the drive. Senji and Ayame just held hands and leaned against each other, awaiting the inevitable ride not to his house, but to the police station. Senji felt a lump in his throat as he prepped to speak to his mother about everything going on and shivers at the thought of how she's going to react.
Usagi sniffed as she grabbed a bottle of beer out of the fridge and started downing the entire bottle. The front door opened up. She looked over and saw Ayame entering the house and headed for her room. Usagi was in shock.
"W-what are you doing home??" She asked.
No response. Usagi sighed and returned to drinking. Ayame soon reappeared after rounding the corner. She stood with her hands behind her back.
"I... Needed to grab my journal for the detective. Evidence or something. They're waiting out in the car. And... I needed a drink too." Ayame spoke softly before entering the kitchen.
"Oh. I-I see. Okay. Then I guess once you leave here I'll be seeing you at the station-!"
Usagi ceased speaking. The sharp blade of a kitchen knife found itself dug into her stomach. Her eyes widened and she dropped the beer bottle, shattering on the tiled floor. Her mouth was agape, gasping as her eyes narrowed down onto Ayame. The girl's cold eyes staring back. She twisted the knife slightly. Blood started seeping from the deep cut.
"A-Ayame...!" Usagi choked.
"I don't want you. Don't need you. You... Had time to redeem yourself. You failed. You created this. Remember that. I'll be with Senji... When this is all over. The isolation, will be tough... But I know he'll be waiting for me." Ayame murmured.
She plucked the knife from out of Usagi's stomach then slashed at her throat. The flesh cut clean open and blood gushed from her neck before she fell to the floor, unable to speak while choking on the blood as her vision began to fade.
"And... I just needed... To get one more in.... Before I leave this all behind me. Goodbye... Usagi."
The last thing Usagi saw was Ayame's murderous glare before her consciousness faded and her heart stopped. Usagi now laid lifeless in a pooling of her own blood. Ayame took a moment to take in this moment. Unsure how to feel. Sympathy? Regret? Pity? Or satisfaction? Part of her wanted to forgive the woman that poorly raised her but just couldn't do it. Now that part of her life has been severed. Ayame then dropped the knife. She took a deep breath, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and started walking away. With water in one hand, a journal in the other and a faint smirk on her face, Ayame made sure to close the door on her way out of the house.