Liar, Liar, the Mage's Desire Vol. 3 (Return of the Oumeno)

Shuichi Saihara, Where Are Ya? (14)

    Later that night, everyone was getting settled for bed in the living room while Bessie and Barty went upstairs to go to sleep. A few rumbles of thunder echoed in the distance through the night sky.

    "What about Finnigan O'Malley?" Fred's voice floated through the dark. "Do you think it could have been him?"

   "I don't know, Fred," Velma replied. "I don't think O'Malley would drill a hole in his own boat just so he could frame a tourist and close the beach down."

   "Then, that would leave Ivana," Daphne said. "After all, she does want to sell this place so badly. Maybe she's trying to scare Barty and Bessie away by dressing up as Barracuda Blatherskite."

   "But, if that's the case, where would they have Shuichi hidden?" Shaggy asked.

   "Reah!" Scooby nodded in thought. 

   "Good question," Velma said thoughtfully. "Kokichi, Himiko, what do you guys think?" Kokichi was too busy looking around the room in a pensive manner. Himiko tugged on his sleeve, which caught his attention. He turned to the others.

   "Hm? Oh, I'm sorry! What were we talking about?" he asked with a cheeky grin. 

   "You know, for someone whose friend is in trouble, you don't seem too worried," Daphne said, raising a suspicious brow. Kokichi smiled and shrugged.

   "Nee-heehee...that's because I'm not," he simply replied. The others' mouths hung agape in shock.

   "Like, that's pretty cold, man!" Shaggy said.

   "How could you not be worried about Shuichi?" Daphne asked. "Isn't he your friend?"

   "Unless...you already know where he is," Velma deduced, folding her arms.

    "Ding-ding-ding, Dinkley!" Kokichi exclaimed. "That's correct!"

   "Then why did you lie about not knowing where he was?" Fred asked in annoyance. "Why didn't you just say where he is, instead of having us stay here another night?" Before Kokichi could answer, the front door to the lighthouse was thrown open.

   "BLAAARRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!" roared Baracuda Blatherskite.

   "Ruh-roh!" Scooby yelped, jumping into Shaggy's arms.

   "Z-Z-Zoinks! It's the Jolly Ro-jerk!" Shaggy exclaimed.

   "Jeepers!" Daphne exclaimed. 

   "Jinkies!" Velma cried. 

  "Plonkers!" Kokichi shrieked with a large grin.