Chapter 1
The Lady Romanov woke from her midday nap with a yawn. Both Thistle and Elos were curled up at the foot of her bed, their noeses touching in a way that was almost romantic. Scratching each of the giant wolves behind the ear Illy rolled off the bed and skipped down the hallway before she heard a shrill scream.
Growling and vamping out she ran down the stairs to find a dead body and a frightened Michi. The two wolves were swiftly by her side and the Novinskian maiden de-taloned herself before hugging Michi close.
"It's okay, little one," Illyana comforted her.
A very pregnant Kuro and a frazzled looking Adamska appeared from the kitchen along with a concerned Kraze and Rune. Naio, Sion, Himawari, Xionis, and Riketz stumbled through a doorway as they scrambled upstairs from their card game (which made Sion very happy, he didn't like losing money to the girl with the tail).
Without thinking the two gunslingers removed their hats at the sight of the fallen man for a second before returning them to their heads. Kuro mentioned cleaning the mess up, but Himawari shook her head, "It'll destroy any evidence."
"Are you suggesting one of us killed him, Fraulein?" Rune inquired.
"I wasn't," Himawari replied eying him suspiciously, "But the fact you jumped to that conclusion sure does make me wonder."
The admiral spoke up, "I highly doubt Rune could have committed the crime as he was having afternoon tea with Kuro, Kraze, and I, Miss Sakura."
"Or is that what you want me to think?" she interrogated as she stared into a single icy blue eye.
"I don't have time for this," Adamska sighed, "I shall call for the authorities."
Himawari grabbed him by the cravat and held him there, "No one calls the cops, Patches. Not yet." She set the seaman down and he and the others noticed she was suddenly sporting large, fox ears and had three tails swishing in the air.
"
She's getting that look..." Illyana mumbled in Novinskian.
"Damn redheads. C'mon Riketz, I gotta finish winning your money," Xio grumbled and dragged the hunter downstairs.
Naio, who had been observing the body with a strange desire in his eyes raised a hand and quietly stated, "Wasn't me." Sion put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Everyone return to your rooms... I've got some investigating to do. Everyone except you two," the vixen pointed at Illyana and Adamska as the others shuffled off she smiled at the pair.
"
I don't like it when she smiles like that. I usually have to do something ridiculous."
"
If she sasses me once more," Adamska grumbled in reply, "
I think I might eat her."
"
I can understand you; I picked the language up quickly from Igdor..." Himawari was smiling a little less, "I know neither of you did this; it's not your style. I also know you've both got a nose for blood..."
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