Saber looked around the Courtyard, trying to remember exactly where the murder had happened. The murder...He remembered the murder...an icy fear gripped him as he realized what was happening. NO! Don't...please...not now...not in front of everyone....! He fell to his knees, his mouth unable to open and let out the scream forming inside his gut. He had no more bodily control, and the yell swirled inside him, brewing along with fifty other emotions that had been plaguing him for a month. He fell forward, his wide open, panicking eyes realizing the ground was rushing up to meet him; yet, he couldn't reach out to catch himself. His head was throbbing, and the contact with the ground didn't help. His eyes froze, then closed wearily. He hadn't been able to sleep for some time now, and resting felt good...until he woke up. and when he awoke, he was in the same place, at the same time--but everything was different. His friends weren't there. There was still a small crowd--the kind of casual, chatty get together that hadn't been happening lately after the murder.

Saber was walking through the Square, intending to buy a few more bandages; he had been running out steadily from all the cuts and bruises he got from his missions. He enjoyed the piece and quiet that came at the end of the day, when people were finally going home from the loud heckling and betting that always took place throughout the day. That's when his eardrum almost burst from one of the most high-pitched sounds he had ever heard--the child's scream.

Placing a hand on the hilt of his saber, he rushed to the alleyway and grabbed the child, placing him down away from the cabinet. Slowly, he walked over to the fine piece of carpentry and looked inside. What he saw made him gasp. It wasn't the corpse that frightened him; in fact, he wasn't even frightened. He was more astonished at something else--the symbol on the back of the body's neck. A red rabbit's foot.

He snapped back awake and bolted upright. He was covered in cold sweat, and his face was soaked--whether it was because of the sweat, tears, or both he did not know. He was panting uncontrollably, and the rabbit's foot still lay in the center of his vision. That cursed mark...He then remembered everybody that was with him, and he turned to them, staring at the group blankly. "I....umm....let's....go to the alley now..." He turned from them, ignoring any queries and looks they may have given him. He tried to forget the whole ordeal as he led them to the alleyway, his panicky strides carrying him a bit faster than the casual pace he was intending to achieve. He paused at the entrance to the alley, looking down the dark path between the buildings.

"We're...we're not going to see anything in this light..." He mumbled half to himself, half to the people besides him. He reached into a small satchel on his back and pulled out a small bit of powder--he had snatched a bit from Dogura, he was sure he wouldn't mind. Much.--and placed it on his index finger. He spotted a torch halfway down the alleyway and focused on it, and snapped his finger. The flammable powder combusted into the mass of thermal energy he had been shooting for--thank Din he could still control his magical energies despite the emotional turmoil. He balanced the ball in his hand with what magical strength he possessed, then threw it at the torch like a ball. His toss was accurate, and the kindling lit, somewhat illuminating the dark alleyway. He cleared his throat, his body still shaking. "N-now then. Let's get looking."

OOC: Yes, that's my way of using the Fire spell. I took a hint from ZV to do it uniquely, and even stole a bit of his powder

Anyways, the goal here is to find evidence. Now, you're not going to find it yourself, meaning you aren't going to make a post saying, "Hey Saber, look over here, I found something." This is going to take deduction and thorough scanning of the area. Hopefully I didn't make it too difficult though...

Kasei had been following Saber for a little bit, now, and still didn't know what ws going on. Talk about no clue! Why am I even following him? The mercinary thought to himself, then looked at where he had ended up; an allyway. Is he lureing me into a trap? Kasei thought, then heard Saber's words. Still having no idea, Kasei leaned against a wall to see what would eventually happen.

OOC: thats all I got to contribute, I won't post again until something is found...hope ya aren't too mad at me, Saber...

Orpheous had an idea. From the moment he was told to look for clues, he knew how to do. Considering he wouldn't be able to use Saber's torch, he let his own lantern and began looking for any distinctive blood patterns, if there was any blood left at all. Even if the scene had been cleaned up, he hoped there still might be a spot of blood on the ground. Simon and Matt let there own lanterns and began to inspect the walls around the scene of the crime.

OOC: Okay, so, while you guys are searching and stuff, I'm going to say what you find in all italics and such, like this.

IN(In Narrative):

The search for blood turns up fruitless, as all the blood had been contained by the sturdy cabinet when the murder had been committed.

The walls are fairly bare--nothing but flat, smooth brick, with a few windows of various shops and inns placed periodically, one near the entrance to the alleyway where the murder was commited.[/i]

IC: Saber walked over to the torch and stared at it for a while before sighing and turning around. He leaned against the wall and slumped into a sitting position, staring at the spot where he had found the body before.

"Well," whispered Matt to Simon, "it appears our criminal likes killing people where nobody can see the act. That looks like that might be all we can go with, unless, we check with the people who reside behind that window," he finished pointing to the window nearest to the result of the murder. Matt, Simon, and Orpheous eventually turned to the ground as to investigate what it was paved with, and what was in the cracks of what ever it was paved with. Perhaps they would find some dust that was only found in a certain region. Orpheous had learned a lot from reading to much Sherlock Holmes. He realized that you must do four things when looking at a mystery. Look for clues, analyze them, use logic to create possible sequences of who did it and what was their motives, means, and opportunity, then use deduction to knock out the possible sequences that don't work, and, there you have it, your final conclusion. Orpheous would ask Saber to describe the seen of the murder more in-depth, however, he was already on the verge as it was. Dang it, he needed to ask somebody, as to help gain more clues.

Melody followed closely behind Saber, none too comfortable in the open courtyard. Looking for clues...she would be good for that from above, but just as she was about to fly up she heard Saber talking, and glided over to the group, crowding around something. Perching on Saber's shoulder she frowned, and took a quick look at Saber before looking back at the area where he was looking intently at. So, this was where he saw it...this is what was traumatizing him...? The spot looked nothing out of the ordinary, but by first glance she could tell there was something slightly different about it, something dark and mysterious...or was she simply telling herself that? She departed from the shoulder she had been clenching tightly and sat, slowly morphing into her humam form. "So...this is where it all happened?" her gaze was inquiring and she turned her vision away first as the intensity became to much of a burden to bare.

Her feeling of uncomfort had only started in the courtyard, as she was incased by the area of a murder scene. She felt like she shouldnt be there, like it wasn't her business. "Saber...do really mind that we are, you know" she thought of what to say for a moment and the word came to her, "Intruding in your business? I know you didn't commit the crime, or was the victum, but...it seems like we are barging in." she tried to bring her gaze up to his face once again, but she couldnt meet his sad eyes.

Saber continued to stare at the same spot with dead eyes, the scenes playing through his head again and again. Could he use his memories to find anything? Highly doubtful. Then he heard that annoyingly headache-inducing, high-pitched voice again, and he shifted towards the fairy. "No...it's fine...the more people we have working on this, the more likely it is we'll find something..." He watched Orpheous and his friends ran around the alleyway. "Or destroy the evidence..." He mumbled irritably.

OOC: Sorry it took a while to get to this.

IC:
Rose followed Saber to the crime scene. Can the trail really be picked up after a month? she thought. Maybe in the wild, but the city is a different thing. But if the goddesses are willing, then who knows what we'll find.

Saber collapsing to the ground interrupted her thoughts. Her initial reaction was to jump in surprise, but then she was moving towards him. "Saber?" she asked, concern in her voice. And then the Hylian woke up and continued leading them to the alley where the murder had taken place. At least she thought it took place there. She still wasn't sure about the details yet.

Once he was done replying to the faerie's questions, she asked her own question, her voice still filled with concern. "Are you okay, Saber? Are you sure you can do this?"

“Hey Saber, look over here, I found something!” came the call of the nomad. Before anyone could react, however, a spastic laughter could be heard coming from his direction. Anyone who chanced a look over at the seemingly delirious nomad would see the Hylian practically doubled over laughing. “ joke, a joke. I'm not that observant!” He looked over his shoulder and aimed an apologetic wink at the others, at which point he noticed the mercenary sitting on the cold ally floor. Like Rose, his initial reaction would have been one of shock. Blank, however, knew very little of Saber and found this emotion hard to portray properly for the time being.

Poor guy. Don't know what's going on with him, but it must have something to do with this murder. The Hylian doubted that his fellow pointy-eared acquaintance would be stopped by a little apparent drowsiness. In the one short meeting of the two on the flats, the younger of the pair had proven great endurance and spirit; Blank began to suspect that there was more to this supposedly simple fatigue than would meet the eyes of those standing in the alley. However, it was not his place to jump in and ask questions, nor offer consolidating comments. Saber was probably just perplexed beyond expression; it was obvious that the murder had stricken his senses deeply.

With little else to do, Blank tried to be of some assistance. He began by searching the alley for signs of clothing; anything torn off during the assassins' quick getaway. Seeing Kasei and Orpheous (and co.) fail to find clues related to the murder, Blank doubled his efforts. “Walls are clear and zero blood? Damn, these guys are good!” he mumbled to himself as he searched with a scholarly attitude.

Saber had fallen back into his stupor, staring blankly at the spot and continously picking over the image that had burned itself into his mind at first sight. There has to be some clue...somewhere...even the best laid plans oft go awry...He thought, quoting a phrase he had heard somewhere. Are you okay Saber? Can you do this?He began to wonder why he was asking himself questions like that. Completely off topic. Wait, that's not me..

His eyes snapped up suddenly towards Rose, blinking as they took in the torchlight glowing off of the female ranger's form. "U-um, yes...I'm fine..."He shook his head and stood. "I'm sorry...I'm really not helping, am I...If I don't help, we'll never find them..." He started to walk down the alley, but stumbled and leaned against the wall. He was still lightheaded from the attack...Then he heard Blank's shout and his head whipped around. When the Hylian admitted it was a joke, he felt like strangling him, and began to lean his way, but felt too weak. He settled back against the wall and sighed. At least they won't be around much longer...

He tried to hide it by turning right away, resting his arm behind him in a casual position. He looked around, and tried to remember everything that had happened. He had overheard Orpheous' friends talking about the window...something about it....Oh! He gazed in their direction. "Yes, we should talk to the owners of the hotel, definitely!"

With that, he signaled towards the small group, taking a shaky step away from the wall and falling off balance, barely catching himself before landing on his face. He spun around, trying to clear his head. "Well, come on now! To the door!" He gestured towards the entrance just around the corner.

Orpheous, Simon, and Matt were also fooled by Blank's trickery, and what they wanted to do was far worse than what Saber had imagined. However, they were pleased when Saber overheard them about the window, and how it should be further investigated. "Pleasure to assist you, Saber," said Orpheous, as the three followed Saber to the door.

Even with his sheikah eyes, Kasei could barely see anything down this aley, it was like the soul of chaos had swallowed him whole, then the opthers lit some lanterns, witch made it easier to se, but was hard on Kasei's eyes. The next few minuets apparently wen't by with nothing found, then Orp suggested something, and Saber directed the group towards the inn. "What? Am I allowed to smoke in there?" Kasei said, having lit a cigarett to pass the time. It wasn't that he was addicted, he could quite anytime! He just had trouble, thats all. "I guess not." He finished, then dropped the half-smoked-cigarett onto the ground, and crushed it under his foot. The mercinary then follows the others out of the alley, and to the inn.

OOC: Yeah, the whole cigaret thing is part of Kasei's character...i'm not promoting smoking, its really bad for your health!

I posted this because iit would seem stupid to leave Kasei outside, even though no clues were found...

The samurai watched intently as all efforts at picking up any clues had failed. Turning his attention back to Saber, he remembered it all clearly... Dogura had been there on the day. The day that the body was discovered. The piercing scream of realization. Shoving the thoughts out of his head, he decided to make himself useful to the cause. Finding it hard to even think, he searched the area for things so small as splinters of wood from the cabinet, or perhaps blood that had slipped into the cracks of the walkway. Finally, Dogura was about to give up hope, when he remembered a handy little ability he had. Focusing hard on the walkway, Dogura looked aroud for any foot tracks leading in any suspicious direction... [Track]

OOC: I didn't quite know how to RP the [Track] ability, so there you go.

~Pyre sat comfortably on the edge of the inn roof, looking down into the alleyway. He saw his friends searching around for evidence. The hylian didn't feel much like helping, for it seemed to be a desperate search that wouldn't have much success. He was pretty sure they would need the help of some kind of informant to really make progress.

He had followed the others earlier, but as soon as they had crossed the moat, he had slipped into the nearby shadows, not particularly wanting to follow the rather large group around. In such numbers, they would be easily noticed, and if some that didn't particularly want them to find any evidence happened to show up... well... Things could get messy, and he wanted to be able to attack unseen.

The rangers eyes swept the length of the alley, but he mostly ignored what his friends said. If they DID happen to find anything, it was probably of little importance. Of course when Blank shouted out in jest, he couldn't supress a laugh.

When someone suggested checking the innkeeper, Pyralin smiled. Finally, a good idea. He pondered dropping down and joining them, but decided not to bother. While they entered the inn, he ended up watching Dogura, checking the ground. The hylian nodded. Another good idea, but with the multitude of footprints that were sure to be in the alley, he would probably need some help.

The ranger leapt from his perch, jumping through the span between buildings, and then slid down the remaining length of the opposite wall. In the end, he was standing behind his fellow ranger, and he soon began to inspect the ground. [Track] He wasn't entirely sure if the others were going to turn back or simply proceed into the inn while the two rangers worked, but he wasn't particularly welcoming company aside from the samurai.~

(((OOC: Sorry its late Saber . Hang with me.)))

IN: There are no tracks to be found. It's been ages since the murder, and the group of eager searchers running all around the alleyway probably didn't help to preserve evidence either. Oh well.

IC:Saber sighed as Kasei's addiction surfaced again. He would never understand why people allowed themselves to get so obsessed...Except that he was obsessed as well...He dismissed the thought and stood up straight again, feeling a bit of strength back in his legs. He entered the doorway after the Shiekah and looked around. He walked up to the counter of the Inn and rang the small bell there, waiting for service.

"Hang on a minute! Stupid kids, always coming 'round in the middle o' the night and waking everyone up...We're full, okay? No rooms! Got it?" A tired-looking old man appeared through a doorwar, stepping up to the counter. He had a vibrant orange mustache that stood out from his red and white dotted pajamas and hat, and his cuccoo-head slippers.

Saber bowed his head apologetically. "Sorry to trouble you at this hour--"

"We don't have any rooms! Got it?" The old man looked up at the group indignantly as he stroked his 'stache.

Saber was taken aback by the firey man's interruption. "Look, we don't want a room--"

"Then why the hell are here?" The man's face was reddening to a hue brighter than his facial hair, and his foot was tapping impatiently as he sniffed and put his hands on his hips.

Saber's eye twitched. He wasn't in a good mood, and he wasn't feeling too well about scrawny mustached men treating him like some moronic street trash. He grated his teeth, and his eyes took a dangerous shine, and he cocked his head as he glared at the man. Trying to stay calm, he spoke through clenched teeth. "We want to look at a room to investigate a murder. Will that be a problem....Sir?"

"I see how it is! You good-for-nothing, penniless oafs want to get a free stay by pretending to 'investigate'! Well, I won't have it--Urk!" The man was cut off as Saber grabbed him by the throat and hauled him across the counter, glaring at him from a few inches away. He drew his saber and waved it back and forth behind his back meaningfully. He had been running on no sleep the last week or so, and after all he had been through, he had no mental restraint left...he would kill this man if he didn't cooperate.