A large crowd of onlookers and curious folk watched the crew from behind the boarder. The cameras were brought into place and the equipment slowly began taking its natural form on the outdoor set. The crew tirelessly worked to make this episode the best.

　　The attention of the crowd was stolen by the roar of an engine. The body of the motorcycle gleamed in the suns rays, blinding the ones who tried to catch a glimpse of the driver.

　　"Who is it?"

　　"Such a nice bike, it has to be a celebrity!"

　　"I wonder which one it is?"

　　The crowd murmured to each other.

　　"Hayashi, Midori?" a woman's voice called.

　　Stepping from my bike, I waved my arm, "Over here!"

　　Stomping toward me, her face was a twisted anger, "You're late!"

　　Apologizing, I removed my helmet, "I know. I deeply apologize, I got a little lost."

　　"No excuses! Come with me." she rushed taking my arm.

　　Following her, the feeling of excitement pierced my heart once more. Glancing around, I searched for familiar faces. A force brought me back to my senses. Glancing up, I peaked at his face. He was tall, with handsome features. His raven hair drooped over his forehead. His black T-shirt closed in tightly around his taught muscles.

　　"Excuse me, Sir. It's my fault, I wasn't paying attention."

　　Leering down at me, his eyes bore chills to the bone.

　　"Children should stay off the set. This isn't a day care." he grumbled in a deep, honeyed voice.

　　"Excuse me? I'm working here today. It may not be the best role but it is an important one."

　　A half hearted grunt was my answer.

　　"I am so sorry, Mr. Ooshiro! This amateur has no idea what she's saying!" the woman broke in, frightened by the man before her.

　　"I know exactly what I'm saying."

　　"Miss Hayashi! This is Mr. Shin Ooshiro! He'll be one of the detectives solving your murder."

　　"Well then, I hope your character cares more about the dead than you do about the living." I smiled to him.

　　Leading the woman away, I felt a cold chill run down my spine.

　　Finding my way to the make-up trailer, I could hear the shouts of angered voices coming from a large trailer parked beside the set. Stopping a moment, I thought about asking for directions. Turning to leave, the door of the trailer flung to the side. A short, middled aged man appeared from inside the trailer, his complexion red with rage.

　　"Do you really believe you're irreplaceable? You're wrong! You're fired!"

　　"You can't fire me! I quit!" a young woman shouted from inside the trailer.

　　Slamming the door, the man stomped from the steps and began pacing back and forth as the situation began to become clear.

　　"What am I going to do? I don't have anyone to replace her!" he mumbled to himself.

　　Watching him, I wondered what had happened to make him so angry.

　　Scratching his chin, his eyes found mine.

　　Startled, I looked away.

　　The man smiled, approaching me, "Hello, Young Lady, I am Director Hayate Fujioka. Can I help you? Are you lost?"

　　"Ah, no thank you. My name is Midori Hayashi and I will be playing todays murder victim. I'm just looking for the make-up trailer."

　　"No, that just won't do." he stated, shaking his head.

　　"If you would rather find another girl, I understand, Sir."

　　"That's not it! You're just much too pretty to be a dead woman!" the Director complimented.

　　"What do you mean, Mr. Director?"

　　"You appear to be about the right size. Come with me!"

　　Hesitating, I followed the strange man.

　　Taking my hand, he pulled me into a large trailer near the set.

　　"Miki! Theres been a cast change! Make this girl into Shun Koizumi!"

　　"Yes, Director Fujioka!" the woman agreed with a grin.

　　"Here, use my copy for now." he offered, sliding something into my hand.

　　"Come here, Sweetie. I'll get you all set."

　　"I'm sorry but what do you mean 'Shun Koizumi?'" I asked looking at what he had given to me.

　　"She's your new character, Detective Shun Koizumi. You'll be co-staring with Shin Ooshiro, who plays your partner, Ryou Ueno."

　　"What? But, Sir, giving such a large role to an amateur such as myself is unthinkable!"

　　"Nonsense, you'll do fine. Now quickly, memorize your lines!" he reassured, leaving me in Miki's hands.

　　With a light heart the man made his way toward the set.

　　"Director Fujioka!"

　　The voice caught the man's ear and, turning, he greeted the man who came to call.

　　"Mr. Abe! What can I do for you?"

　　"I was just informed that Miss Hamasaki quit! What is the meaning of this? Who is going to be Mr. Ooshiro's partner now?"

　　"Settle down! I've already taken care of it. Everything will be just fine." an overbearing grin of satisfaction crossed his lips.

　　"Who is this replacement? Are you sure she's fit for this role? If I remember correctly there was no understudy for this role."

　　"She'll be fine. I can feel it in my bones!"

　　"Who is she, Director?" Shin asked.

　　"Her name is Midori Hayashi. Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I have a new murder victim to find."

　　Watching the director saunter toward the audience, the man heaved a deep sigh.

　　"Allowing an amateur to work beside the great Shin Ooshiro! Unthinkable!"

　　Silence was his answer.

　　"I apologize, Mr. Ooshiro. We will find you other work."

　　Silence answered him once more.

　　"I'll go inform Director Fujioka about you leaving the project."

　　"It's fine, Abe."

　　"I'm sorry?"

　　"I will work with the girl for today."

　　"But, Mr. Ooshiro, she's just an amateur! She just got a little lucky today. She isn't worthy to work along side someone such as yourself!"

　　"That's final, Abe." turning his back to his manager, he motioned toward the make-up trailer.

　　"Alright! You're all done! I think this is my best work yet!" Miki praised herself.

　　Standing, I gazed into the mirror. My blonde hair had been curled and parted from one side, where before it had been straight with a center part. My make up blended perfectly. The blouse was a powder blue which complimented my pale skin tone. Black slacks and a pair of high heel boots brought the outfit together.

　　"Don't worry. You're secret is safe with me." she reassured as she poked at a hair that had strayed from one of my curls.

　　"Thank you, Miki."

　　"Have you finished reading the script?"

　　"Already memorized."

　　"Then you're good! Do me a favor and go get Ooshiro for me, please?"

　　"Sure. Anything for you."

　　Stepping from the trailer, I was met with a familiar form. Falling back against the trailer door, I glared into his frozen green eyes.

　　"I apologize, Mr. Ooshiro. I did not see you there."

　　"Can you handle this?"

　　"What?"

　　"Being Shun Koizumi, can you handle it?"

　　"We'll just have to find out on set, now won't we?" I answered, pushing him aside.

　　The surrounding eyes gawked, mortified by my attitude toward him.

　　As I made my way toward the set, I shouted over my shoulder, "Oh and Miki is ready for you."

　　Shin watched her leave with distain in his eyes.

　　"Quiet on set! And Action!" the director shouted.

　　Crouching before the body, Ueno took photographs of the wretched scene.

　　Her body was splayed out and her clothes torn from her flesh. Cooled crimson embraced the edges of her torso.

　　"It's a real shame. She was so pretty." Ueno complained, snapping another photo.

　　"Have we found the murder weapon yet?" Koizumi asked, her voice scratchy.

　　"No. And I can't find an ID either."

　　"Damn, makes our job harder."

　　"The M.E.'s job seems easy enough, though. Raped and shot three times in the chest, even I can figure that out." he stated arrogantly.

　　"Don't be so sure of yourself, Ueno. Look at this wound here. See how its larger than the other two?"

　　"Yeah? So are you saying we have two different guns or two assailants?"

　　"I'm saying this is an exit wound, Rookie."

　　"How can you be sure?"

　　"If you're finished taking pictures then help me role her over." she requested lifting the clammy shoulder.

　　Rolling the victim onto her side, Koizumi pointed to the corresponding bullet wound on her back.

　　"Notice how its similar to the other two wounds? All three of them are entry wounds."

　　"Then how come only one of them has an exit wound, Koizumi?"

　　Laying her down once more, Koizumi stood.

　　"If she was raped the assailant would have needed a way to keep her quiet in such a public place."

　　Looking to her, the scene began to tumble through my mind.

　　"He held her at gun point, raped her and when she tried to run away he shot her in the back."

　　"But what about the other two shots?"

　　Pointing toward her feet, she continued, "Ueno, look at this blood smear. What does it tell you?"

　　"That she was dragged?"

　　"What else, Ueno?"

　　Taking a closer look, he cocked his head a bit trying to find the right answer.

　　"Ueno! What do these drag marks mean?" she demanded.

　　"Uh, she was only dragged a few feet. The killer probably wouldn't have done that, right?"

　　Shivers trickled down his spine as his superior stared at him, her expression frozen.

　　"Right! Um, she must have dragged herself trying to get away!"

　　"And then what, Rookie? What did the bastard do then?"

　　Examining the corpse, Ueno found a distinctive bruise mark on her waist.

　　"He, uh. He kicked her over onto her back and shot her two more times in the chest."

　　"What does that tell us, Ueno?"

　　"What do you mean?"

　　"What does the fact that he made her face him before finishing her off tell us, Rookie!" irritation rang through her graveled voice.

　　"That he wanted the last thing she say be her killer's face?"

　　"Or he wanted to watch her terrified expression as she died right in front of him." she offered him a second option.

　　"But if that is the case then couldn't we be looking for a serial killer?"

　　"If we are, we need to find that bastard fast."

　　"wouldn't we need the third bullet?"

　　Eyeing the direction of the body, she followed its trail. Examining the area, a fresh hole made itself apparent in a nearby tree.

　　"Ueno! Take a picture of this!"

　　Rushing to her side, he snapped the shutter as the picture imprinted in the memory card.

　　Pulling something from the side of her boot, she flipped the blade free of its casing. Gouging the blade deep into the bark, it freed the missing bullet from its captor.

　　"Smart thinking, Koizumi!" Ueno congratulated, grasping his partner's shoulder.

　　"You have three seconds to decide if you want to keep that hand, Rookie."

　　Stepping aback he removed his hand promptly, "Yes, Koizumi! Sorry, Koizumi!"

　　"Cut!" Director Fujioka shouted.

　　Silently, he approached us.

　　"I apologize, Sir. Maybe it would be best to get someone more experienced for this role."

　　"Who gave you permission to improvise lines?" Shin scolded.

　　"I said I was sorry! I got arrogant. I am deeply sorry, Direct Fujioka."

　　"What are you talking about? That was amazing! Much better than I anticipated!"

　　"Amateurs should not go off script, Sir."

　　"True, Mr. Ooshiro. However, in this case I think I'll let it slide."

　　"Sir, I don't understand. Aren't you going to fire me?"

　　"No! Definitely not! You're role as Shun Koizumi stays. Get used to her, Ooshiro. You two are staying partners!"

　　Leaving us, the director called for his people to begin preparing for the next scene.

　　"Seems we're stuck together, Ooshiro."

　　His cold shoulder as he walked away was my answer.