Marked (BokuAka)

19. Investigation

Akaashi's POV:

Akaashi lead the way into the gymnasium, glad that Bokuto had begged the key from the captain for extra practice time. Now, they could check out that storage room in peace. But he didn't know what they'd do with the information. Sure, it'd narrow it down if they used the room, but there are thousands of people at Fukurodani, and then teachers, parents, the principal, et cetera.

At least it'd narrow it down. But, again, how will a group of high schoolers take down a group of people bent on murdering fifty percent of the population in the hopes of exterminating soulmates?

'Alright, kids! Today we're going to be learning about soulmates!' Akaashi startled, swearing that he heard the voice of his kindergarten teacher speaking in his head. Why am I thinking about this right now? But his brain apparently wanted to feel some nostalgia, because it yanked him back into his kindergarten classroom.

{Start of flashback} The crowd of children cheered, each one having heard of soulmates, each one ecstatic to someday meet theirs. The young teacher held a picture book in her hands, the cover illustrated with two people connected by a glowing string attached to their hearts.

The kind lady adopted a 'story-telling' voice and began. "Once upon a time, many, many years ago, the gods made human beings. Each person was actually two, attached at the hip! These people were in love and were extremely powerful due to their love and togetherness. But, one day, the gods separated human beings because they feared this strength. And so, they separated everyone and left them to search the Earth for their other half. They only had one clue. Once a person turned fifteen, they could write to their soulmate, for any cuts or writings on their arms would appear on the other person's. Though humans can never be with their soulmates as we once could, we can still find them." The teacher shut the storybook and strode up to the whiteboard.

"Okay," she cleared her throat. "There are some rules for soulmates, as it might be dangerous." The rest of the lesson went on about dangers and rules, but only one thing remained in Akaashi's young mind. There is someone out there made for me. And they will love me forever. This idea was dear to him, and to the rest of the class, as they could tell from the chittering and blushing and laughing. Every kid wanted to have someone just for them. {End of flashback}

"Hey hey hey! Akaash!" Bokuto jumped up and down, gesturing at the door. "Can I go in now? Huh? Huh?" Akaashi opened his mouth, about to say "Yes" until he noticed Washio. Standing in between Kuroo and Bokuto, he was staring hungrily back and forth between the keys and the door, fingers twitching.

Akaashi stepped forward, holding his hand out for the keys. "Why don't we give Washio the honours?" Bokuto sighed and placed the keys in Akaashi's outstretched fingers, who promptly gave them to Washio.

Washio's fingers were still quivering, but he purposefully jammed the key into the lock. The door creaked open ominously, and the four boys looked inside, Kuroo's hair on Akaashi's face. He sputtered, moving his head back slightly. Gosh, I really want to take some scissors to that and fix it.

The storage room looked terribly...

Normal.

Boring.

And Akaashi hated it.

In every crime documentary, movie, show and YouTube video, the rooms were ominous and creepy, with a clear smell of evil. But this was just what it was. A storage room. With neatly labelled boxes.

"Alright." Akaashi tapped his foot against one of the shelves. "Check through all of these. Make sure that they have what it says on the label." Bokuto, Kuroo and Washio nodded, each one taking a shelf to scour. Akaashi started on one of them as well and quickly finished it. Onto the next one of eight shelves. But as time ticked by with no strange items or misplacements, Akaashi began to lose hope.

"I found something." Kuroo pulled out a box. "Or rather, I didn't. There is no rope in here. No rope in any of these boxes. And there are supposed to be three separate ropes."

Akaashi practically sprinted over, looking inside the obviously empty box, then at the label. "You're right." Akaashi clutched his stomach. "And there was the rope used. It must've..." He looked at the empty box again. "Come from here."

Washio and Bokuto nodded, both an identical shade of green. Kuroo looked around the group, also turning green when he realized. "Oh. Oh, no."

"Whoever killed them somehow got the keys and went into the storage room. Also, they had the keys for the school or some way to get in." Akaashi grimaced. "Next thing we do is find out who could've entered the school, and who took the keys. Any ideas?"

Washio raised his hand, timidly. "Why don't we just ask the captain? Even if he doesn't know, we can find out where he left them."

"Nice, Washio!" Bokuto raised his hands for a high five, which Kuroo and Washio returned. He then turned to Akaashi with a gleam in his eyes. "Ready, detective?"

Akaashi smiled, also putting a hand up for a high five. "Let's go."

Oooooh! Finally! Some progress! I never thought I'd get here.