KNY | The Boat Of Humanity (Tanjirou x Muichiro)

Chapter 14 - From The Deepest Depths Of Hell

Tanjirou’s POV

I stayed in one corner of the room with Muichiro and Nezuko, I officially trusted no one. Six men were dead and someone in this room was most likely a killer. It couldn’t have been Nezuko, it just couldn’t have. And I know for a fact that it wasn’t Muichiro, he’d been injured the past few days and since the smell hadn’t reached the rest of the ship then they couldn’t have been dead that long.

Nobody said a single word the entire time we were waiting in the lounge for someone to come back. The candles were shortening and we still had several hours of night left. 

It was more than a few minutes before the lights turned back on and Sabito along with Giyuu and Rengoku returned to the lounge. Sabito stayed by Giyuu’s side and everyone was scared of the shotgun.   

“As of now the two most suspicious people have been locked in the hull. I would like to know if anyone has any information on the death of the men” Giyuu asked somewhat calmly, “And if anyone would like to come clean now, I promise I won’t shoot you in the head” 

“Also anything involving a mysterious metal case, possibly with a fingerprint lock?” Sabito added. 

I jabbed Muichiro’s arm gently, indicating for him to talk. Six men were already dead, Tomioka had a shotgun and everyone was too terrified to even move. I looked at him when he didn’t say anything, he looked too scared to say anything. I grabbed his hand and gave it a soft squeeze to reassure him and he gave me a soft smile. 

“Um” he started as he raised a hand, “When I was in the infirmary one night, I saw Shinobu unlocking the big white cupboard and she pulled out a metal case, I think it did have a fingerprint lock” he explained. 

“Why didn’t you tell anyone?” Giyuu asked. 

“I did, I told Tanjirou” he said, I inhaled sharply at the spotlight suddenly being put on me. 

“When?” Giyuu persisted. 

“I don’t know, like 40 minutes ago?” he mumbled. 

“Does anyone else know something?” he asked, “Or has anyone seen anything?” 

Everyone stayed silent, “Alright, Muichiro, you’re coming with me to show me where the case is” Giyuu said as he gave the shotgun to Sabito, “Everyone else stays here” 

I looked at Muichiro, he very obviously didn’t want to go. He was scared to be alone with Giyuu. I honestly would be too.I held his hand and helped him get up and settled onto his crutches. 

“I’m going too,” I told him. 

“No, you’re staying-” Giyuu snapped sharply, but just as he said that Sabito jabbed an elbow into his side. Giyuu rolled his eyes, “Fine, let’s go” he sighed as he turned and started leaving the lounge. 

We followed him, Muichiro walked behind me as we made our way to the infirmary. Our path was illuminated only slightly, as it was night and the bottom halls didn’t have as many lights. We arrived at the infirmary and Muichiro explained that he saw Shinobu taking the case out of the locked cupboard. Giyuu went over and fiddled with the lock for a second. 

“Stay here” he ordered as he left the room. We both looked at each other. 

“I think I can smell it, the bodies” Muichiro mumbled, he had sat down on one of the beds. 

“I can too” I said, “I wonder who did it, I mean I understand why Giyuu would immediately suspect Shinobu and Shinagawa lock them in the hull but it wouldn’t make sense for them to kill the crew of the ship. Not with their connection to the ship, it wouldn’t benefit them” I said.