In Jiangxia's opinion, Shimabukuro Kimie was right:
There's no curse on the Dugong Arrows.
There are no mermaids on Mermaid Island.
And the so-called "Immortal of 130 Years" is a complete sham.
—The whole "Immortal" thing had been fabricated by generations of women in the Shimabukuro family.
Until three years ago, the person playing the role of "Immortal" was Shimabukuro Kimie's mother, Shimabukuro Naoko.
That year, during the Mermaid Festival, Kadowaki Saori and her two friends didn't draw a Dugong Arrow. Upset and bitter, they got drunk. Then, for reasons only a bear child's logic could explain, they snuck into the shrine's storage to snatch some arrows—only to catch a glimpse of "immortal" herself walking into the warehouse.
Drunk as they were, they thought, Hey, let's lock her in and set a fire—see if she's really immortal!
(You'd think they'd be Buddhist enough to stop at just stealing.)
Shimabukuro Naoko didn't survive. As the fire spread and pillars collapsed, her lower body was crushed. What remained was a charred skeleton that, disturbingly, resembled a legless mermaid.
Before dying, she had just enough time to call her daughter and beg her to take up the "immortal" mantle and keep the Mermaid Festival alive.
Kimie didn't really understand what had happened, but following her mother's last wish, she tearfully put on the robe of "immortal" and kept the lie going.
The next day, the three drunken arsonists saw the supposed "mermaid bones" in the ruins of the warehouse… and then, horror of horrors, saw the "immortal" walking around alive and well in the crowd.
From that moment on, they didn't just believe—they worshipped. Terrified into true believers.
…
So a few days ago, when Kadowaki Saori lost her Dugong Arrow, she became convinced she'd been cursed.
Panicking, she ran to Kimie, cashing in on their "friendship" to beg for another arrow—and while she was at it, blurted out her big secret: that she and her friends were the ones who had burned the "mermaid" alive.
Kimie was thunderstruck.
She tried telling herself: Well, technically, Mom was lying to people first… so like… maybe both sides were wrong? Classic moral gymnastics.
But then Kadowaki Saori kept talking.
All smiles, she chirped, "If I can't get a new arrow, can you at least tell me where the mermaid's tomb is? I remember the mermaid bones were buried up in the mountains… Please! I want to be immortal too, just like the elder!"
Kimie's expression blanked.
The "immortality" myth came from eating mermaid flesh.
...So basically, not only had this woman burned her mother alive, now she wanted to dig up her bones and eat them.
Kimie's murderous intent ignited like dry brush on a windy day.
She made up her mind to kill all three of the arsonists.
…
So when she went out with Kadowaki Saori today, it wasn't because they were BFFs on an island getaway. It was premeditated murder prep.
The plan was to take Saori to the island dentist, walk her home after, and find the right moment to end her.
What Kimie hadn't planned on… was Kadowaki Saori bringing along a detective.
And not just any detective—two of them.
One was even that rising star she'd seen on several shows...
While Saori chattered nonsense to Hattori Heiji about needing help to "catch a mermaid," Shimabukuro Kimie glanced stealthily at Jiangxia Tongzhi.
He was already looking at her.
His face was calm, expression unreadable—but Kimie froze. Her back stiffened like she'd just felt a guillotine blade hovering an inch above her neck.
Or maybe a heavy club—held up by a ghost with a grudge.
Her instincts screamed.
They locked eyes for a long, tense second. Right as Kimie felt her poker face beginning to crack, Jiangxia tilted his head away—
And casually began staring at a food truck.
…Ramen won the staredown.
Kimie quietly let out a breath. Her heart pounded like crazy.
What was that? Did he see through me already?
No, no way. Her plan had barely begun. There was no evidence, no motive, no loose ends.
…It had to be guilt. That was all. Guilt-induced paranoia. Nothing more.
…
Different people have different moods.
Before disembarking, Hattori Heiji handed the money back to Saori. "There's really nothing I can do," he said flatly. "I can't exactly go out to sea and catch a mermaid."
As far as he was concerned, this whole trip was now a vacation.
After they got off the boat, Kadowaki Saori shuffled away, clearly discouraged.
Shimabukuro Kimie waved cheerfully and walked her home.
Of course, inside, she'd long since smashed the boat of friendship into the rocks—but on the outside, she was still playing the gentle, considerate friend.
Jiangxia wanted to harvest Kimie's murderous aura right then and there.
But just as the boat neared shore, the ghosts following him made a new discovery.
—There was a ghost on the island.
A strong one.
Jiangxia stood in the mild sea breeze, feeling the presence grow closer. His mood improved dramatically.
Forget "Mermaid Island."
This was now Paradise Island: Exclusive Resort for European Emperor Psychics.
…
With the Mermaid Festival just around the corner, the local specialty street was bustling that afternoon.
The three girls—Ran, Kazuha, and Sonoko—skipped off happily into the crowd. Heiji and Conan trailed behind like reluctant chaperones.
Jiangxia followed a bit farther back, meandering slowly… until he quietly slipped off-course, heading straight for the ghostly energy.
Past the bustling stalls, through a quiet grove, and toward the sea—he soon spotted a small, plain shrine.
The ghostly presence came from here.
Usually, there were only two people who stayed in the shrine: the "Immortal" and Shimabukuro Kimie.
Since they were the same person, and Kimie was currently at Saori's place, the shrine was totally empty.
Perfect.
Jiangxia stepped forward, ready to go in.
But just as he crossed the threshold, he suddenly dropped into a dodge.
WHACK!
A long, translucent fish tail slapped the air where his head had just been.
It missed.
The tail swung back and tensed, fin twitching ever so slightly, readying for a second strike.
Jiangxia looked up.
And froze.
Perched atop the low torii gate of the shrine… was a full-sized mermaid ghost.
*Goal #1: Top 200 fanfics published within the last 31 - 90 days by POWER STONES.
Progress: 9/60(approx) for 10 BONUS CHAPTERS
Goal #2: One BONUS CHAPTER per review for the first 10 REVIEWS.
Progress:2/10*