Figure Maker (1)

Figure Maker (1)

~~~~

"Why?"

I tried every scenario in my head as to why the most infamous killer would want to talk to a regular civilian.

Yuuki Otohito. He's a collage student and has both parents along with a younger sister. The only thing that's noteworthy is his missing older sister aside from that he's just another face in the crowd.

Knock! Knock!

"Come in"

"Prosecutor, we need the information now more than ever… Please there is no other choice any more."

"Hah… I see…"

I looked down and into Yuuki Otohito's files.

I can't believe we have to bring an innocent civilian into this mess…

"I'll go get him now…"

"I wish you luck, Prosecutor…"

I grabbed my keys and headed out.

I had Yuuki-kun's address on my phone. All I needed to do was get him to the prison and get the information from Kazami Tazuru.

I drove.

I drove and contemplated again as to why someone like Kazami Tazuru would want to speak to someone like Yuuki Otohito.

By the time I had noticed I was already in front of the small apartment complex that Otohito-kun lived in.

I walked up to his room.

Ding! Dong!

A brown-haired and light-green eyed individual came into view upon opening the door.

He looked just like in the pictures.

"Hello?"

"You must be Yuuki Otohito correct?" I started out.

"My name is Nomura Asagao, I'm with the criminal division of the Tokyo's District Public Prosecutors office."

"P-prosecutor…!?"

"I haven't done anything wrong, though…"

"I understand, we've investigated your background."

"Apologies but we don't have time, I know it's unreasonable but could you come with me?"

I could see the fear and sweat on his face.

After he dressed up (as he was still in his night-clothes) we headed to the prison where Kazami Tazuru was held.

"From here we'll be heading to the prison." I said to him, I couldn't keep any information from him especially if he breaks down in front of Kazami Tazuru. It won't be good if he's too nervous to even talk.

"Prison!?"

Hah. I can't believe it truly has come down to this. Was there truly no other option?

"I-I really haven't committed any crimes though…!?"

"It's alright I understand that."

"Nobody is attempting to arrest you and we know that you haven't committed any crimes."

"If anything…"

"... We would like to ask for your help in preventing those crimes."

"Help? What kind of help…"

I looked back through the rear mirror.

"..."

"A certain convict has asked to speak with you as a condition for providing a clue to a major incident. That's the situation."

"A convict? W-who would that be…?"

Huu…

"Kazami Tazuru."

"...No way"

"…The mass murderer on death row…!?"

Two years ago she suddenly turned herself in. Neither her age nor her birthplace are known. She didn't even have a citizenship. Even now not much is known about her…

"But… But why? Why would she want to talk to me?"

"... I'm sorry but I don't really have any answers at the moment. To be frank, we're almost as in the dark as you are."

"..."

I could hear him going silent.

"It's natural that you would be confused but I want you to understand."

My grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"This is the only option we have left."

It only took a while later to arrive at our destination.

"We're here"

As we headed inside and toward the staircases I saw his nervous face.

"Try not to be so nervous… Or so I'd like to say, but this is the situation we're in. Feel free to call me by my given name."

"Asagao-san…"

I started telling what he would be doing while talking to Kazami Tazuru.

"What we want to find out is the information that Kazami Tazuru has related to the copycat crime."

"Copycat crime?"

As an 'artist', the mass murderer was defined by certain groups. The people who became her followers would create 'copycat' crimes in these past two years and homicides were committed in various locations.

"Today, the plan is to obtain information regarding a certain copycat crime."

"...Asagao-san, would it be alright to ask a question?"

"Ask as many questions as you like."

"Kazami Tazuru… what is she?"

I stopped walking and turned around.

"...Some media outlets have said this about her "Kazami Tazuru is a Murdist". But if I had to say, she is simply an evil person."

"She killed eighty-nine people and caused sorrow for many more people who were caught up in her crimes. A world that admires her and forgives her crimes cannot be allowed to exist."

After voicing out my thoughts I turned back and started walking again.

Yuuki-kun caught up with me and said, "I also… feel the same way."

I smiled.

Once we were close to the room I gave some instructions to Otohito-kun.

"We'll be using earbuds to communicate with you and give you directions on what to say."

I looked at him for confirmation.

"I understand."

"Good."

One of the police officers escorting us gave Otohito-kun a box with earbuds inside.

We were now in front of the door leading to Kazami Tazuru.

"Have you put on the earbuds?"

"Yes"

"I'll be giving you the instructions from the room next door… we're starting."

"...I'm ready"

I watched Otohito-kun open the door and head inside. I went to the next door to see what was happening.

*

*

*

I walked inside.

I saw a beautiful woman wearing a white one-piece dress with long chains strapped on her wrists.

"Otohito-kun can you hear my voice? Have a seat." I heard Asagao-san's voice through the earbud.

"...Won't you sit?"

I was surprised.

Kazami Tazuru… I don't know what to think about her… I know she's a bad person but after meeting her I don't know what to say. However I firmly believe that she should die after all the harm she has done.

She just looked at me as I sat down across from her.

"We meet at last"

?

"I-I don't know you, I haven't even met you once."

"Indeed. For now, that's perfectly fine."

"We'll begin from here"

I don't know how to respond to that…

"Please ask her about the copycat crime."

!!

Asagao-san's voice startled me…

"Um, could you tell me about the copycat crime?"

"Hmm? Which copycat crime would you be talking about? There are so many that I'm not quite sure…"

"Uhh…" I was dumbfounded. This is the mass murderer who killed eighty-nine people?

I saw her giggling.

"I'm kidding, I'll tell you about it."

"...The murderer you're seeking is called the "Figure Maker" after amputating the victim's limbs they replace them with those of a mannequin. It's a comparatively orthodox and boring copycat crime, no?"

"Figure Maker… If I'm not mistaken they only target women according to the TV."

"Precisely."

"I do know the location of this copycat."

Something that can help Asagao-san.

"Please tell me then."

"Of course, but simply telling you would be boring."

"And I'd like to talk with you some more." Kazami Tasuru said while pointing at me. I felt uncomfortable. She pointed at me as if she had a knife.

"So…"

"Let's play a game"

She said it with such a cheerful voice and look that I really couldn't deny it.

"A game?"

"Do you know about situational puzzles?"

Those?

"By repeating the process of questioning one would eventually deduce the correct answer…"

"So I would ask the questions and you would answer with either yes or no."

"Precisely"

"We have no choice but to play her game." Asagao-san said.

"I'll tell you the questions, and you can ask them by proxy."

Hu. I'm ready.

"Ah. That won't do. Get rid of those earbuds."

"The one I'd like to converse with is not Nanao-san, it's you. If it can't be done then I will void this visitation."

"...Shit…" I could hear Asagao-san cuss.

A police officer came and asked for the earbuds.

"We can speak with the two of us at last…"

"Without further ado. Let's begin." A smile sprouted on her face as she said it.

"The theme is "the location of the copycat". Ask questions again and again, should you obtain the correct answer, it's your win."

If I can help Asagao-san just a little…!

"Is the copycat male?"

"That question is unrelated to the 'location of the copycat' you know?"

"No comment, go on, go on, do your best."

"Uu…"

A question that has to do with the location…

"Is the copycat in Japan?"

"Yes"

"Are they in Kyushu?"

"No"

"Shikoku?"

"No"

"Kinki?"

"No"

"Hokuriku?"

"No"

"Are they in Kanto?"

"Yes"

"Incidentally… they're in the same prefecture as your household… and not the prefecture of the apartment where you currently live."

What!?

"...Ka-Kanagawa prefecture?"

"Yes"

How does she know about me? Has she been stalking me?

"How do you know about me? Not just my house but also where I'm living now. How much more do you know about…"

"No comment, that is unrelated to 'the location'."

Hah…

Hah…

"Figu-... The copycat… uhh-hh"

"Ah, that won't do, you've lost your concentration, it seems you require some motivation."

"In that case, I suppose now would be a good time."

"Eh?"

What?

"In regards to the copycat's peculiarities, I will let you in on a single piece of information."

"That is that they target women. They abduct the target and slowly build up a body of work."

"However they only target girls that are fifteen years old."

What!

"By the way, I'd like to ask something. How old is your little sister?"

I remembered my phone call with Fumi earlier today. "Ah someone came over."

No! Fumi!

Hah…

Hah…

By the time I noticed Asagao-san was in front of me and holding my shoulders.

"Otohito-kun! Stay calm and listen to me. We were just contacted by the police two hours ago, your family notified the police."

"There's a possibility that your little sister has been kidnapped."

I never thought I would ever feel this much rage and resentment towards a person.

"WHERE IS FUMI!?"

I grabbed Kazami Tazuru by her shoulders. Asagao-san and the other police officers were able to get me off of her.

"That is unrelated to the 'location of the copycat'. No comment."

"Wouldn't it be better to get back to the questions?"

Sweat covered my face and my teeth were clenched as I stared at her.

"You won't be able to stop the copycat if you don't hurry."

"Say"

"Have you ever seen a genuine photo of a corpse before?" She was menacing. Her face was mere inches away from me as her cat-like eyes looked into my own.

No!

No! No! No!

Left out on the streets. A high school girl made to sit like a doll. Her four limbs replaced with that of mannequins.

I could feel my head turning and my stomach riling up the more I thought about what could be happening to my younger sister.

"I dare you to do something to her!!!" Tears poured out.

"I'm not doing anything, it's simply the Figure Maker is on the move."

"Come on now, let's continue with the questions already."

.

.

.

"You wouldn't want to lose another family member do you?"

What?

How does she know about Koto-nee?

I saw flashbacks of when she was still here with us.

"What. Do. You. Know. About my older sister?"

"That's unrelated to 'the location'. No comment." How could she still smile? How? HOW!?

I swung my right arm at her. Asagao-san stopped before I could, however.

"...!"

Why? I looked at Asagao-san.

"Aside from Otohito-kun and the guard, no one is allowed in here…" Kazami Tazuru said that while glaring at Asagao-san.

He led me out of the room.

"Deep breaths."

Haaa…

Haaa…

"Currently, the entire police department is searching for your sister. We've narrowed it down to Kanagawa prefecture. If we can continue the question-"

"I KNOW THAT!!"

"BUT TAZURU ONLY ANSWERS WITH YES OR NO!! AND THE SEARCH IS STILL WAY TOO BIG!!"

How many more tens of minutes will it take to get the truth… How many more hours?

EVEN NOW FUMI IS IN THE HANDS OF THE COPYCAT!!

"While I'm asking questions… My little sister could be killed…!"

I could see the tears coming out from my eyes. It was covering my vision.

"...Otohito-kun, you've done well. I apologize for making an ordinary person like you do something so out of scope."

"There won't be any complaints if you leave at this point. Just leave the rest to us…"

No. No!

I CAN'T ALLOW MYSELF TO LET FUMI DIE BEFORE I EVEN TRY!!

"Wait… Please wait a second…"

"The only person who can find the location is me. So I'll do it."

"I'll definitely save my little sister…!"

"You're strong…" Asagao-san said.

"Otohito-kun, first of all, calm down before you go back in. That bastard could be throwing you off. We have one countermeasure, that is to focus on the game."

"You can do it!"

"...Ok…!"

I can't cry right now. My little sister's life is at stake.

Huu…

Huu…

I shut my eyes for a few seconds before heading back in.

"I heard you screaming next door, are you alright?"

"That's unrelated to 'the location'. No comment."

"It seems you have room to joke around."

In order to save my little sister in the fewest steps possible.

Play the game and obtain the correct answer!

"I'm restarting the questions!"

*

*

*

I looked at the little show that Kazami-san was doing.

There is something wrong… What is it?

.

.

.

I no longer needed to rush. I found the perfect moment to interrogate Kazami-san. There, I will obtain my answer.

However the world has been more busy as of late.

More copycats, Technician-san is moving, Kazami-san is locked up in prison, my ride to her is also moving.

Many different pieces moving all at the same time.

It won't be long before a small spark will light the fuse for the grand finale.

The question is when?

When will the fuse be lit?

When will the finale happen?

So many questions I won't have the answer to until I observe through it all.

I just have to wait…

Just wait…