alright, so...this is sort of an explanation chapter of sorts. You'll see when you read it. Basically (almost) everything that has happened up until the point last chapter started. I own nothing. Enjoy!

Perhaps I should explain my situation.

My name is Tsukumo Yuma. I don't have many friends. I am a detective in the city of Heartland. Most people wouldn't expect me to be one,but it's more because of my friend Astral Starr, an astrologist, that I decided I wanted to be a detective. It's kind of fun, solving mysteries.

Anyway, I'm sure that isn't what you wanted to hear. You wanted to hear an explanation as to why I, a detective, am living with a serial killer. It's a long story.

Michael Arclight wasn't always a serial killer. We met in sixth grade. Up until then, Michael hadn't had an...easy life. His father mysteriously vanished along with my own on an adventure they were going on together. My father was an adventurer and his was a scientist. His oldest brother Chris grew distant, and he and his other older brother, Thomas, were temporarily abandoned in an orphanage while Chris worked day and night to find Byron, their father.

Byron eventually turned up, but he wasn't the same as he had been. His newer, odder behavior affected his sons, so when I met Michael, he was kind of upset with his father's odd behavior. He acted kind, but I could always see resentment in his eyes. But I didn't stop trying to befriend him and make him feel better. I discovered his love of archeology and ancient artifacts and used that to my advantage.

Eventually his father regained his senses, and the Arclight children didn't act quite so...evil. Except for Thomas. His behavior didn't change too much. But the damage had already been done, and Michael didn't come out of the experience completely unscathed. His mental health took a dip and...I guess he became attached to me. I guess it was because during that period, I had been there to comfort him and make him smile, and he just...became dependent on me.

Dangerously dependent.

I remember the first murder, more because I walked in while it was in progress. We were in ninth grade, and the victim was a girl a grade behind us. I don't remember her name, but she had supposedly had a crush on me, and had confessed one day. I turned her down and she walked away in tears. I turned to head home, and there was Michael, only a few feet away with a weird look on his face. When I asked about it, he just smiled and said it was nothing. And I, being the idiot I was, believed it.

Later that night, I went out to perform an errand for my sister, Akari. As I was heading home, I heard someone gasp in an alley. So I entered and explored, going through several twists and turns until i stumbled upon it. The murder. All i saw at first was Michael's back. He heard me approach and turned, smiling, saying he was happy to see me. Then I noticed it.

A blood smear on his cheek.

Sure enough, when he turned his full body, I saw it. He wore gloves, white gloves that were now covered in blood. In one hand he held a bloodied knife, and the other was tracing a the Roman Numeral III on her cheek. Her neck was slit deeply and cleanly. I could tell he had cut straight down to her windpipe.

I bolted. I needed to escape, to tell someone. Michael was faster though. He pinned me to a wall and gave me a friendly smile. He leaned close and murmured "You won't tell anyone, right, Yuma?"

And I didn't.

As the high school years progressed, 2 more people lost their lives to Michael, and one of them had once gotten to close for comfort, both by my standards, and Michael's. And the other had been a childhood bully of mine.

Now, years later, I live with Michael. I can't bring myself to turn him in, so I remain silent and play dumb. To help pay rent, Michael works at a museum in town, Heartland Museum. His favorite exhibit is the Egyptian exhibit.

3 more people have become his victim since graduating from high school and college. As you can probably guess at this point, they were either admirers or bullies of mine or someone who tried to take advantage of me. Along with his latest victim, that is a total of about 7 victims.

And I still can't bring myself to turn Michael in and betray his trust.

So that's the story so far. About why I live with a serial killer. That's the whole story.

At least, all you need to know.

TheScoundrelCookie: I like Keyshipping too! :) thank you.

CatLoverx33: thank you. All is (more or less) explained in this chapter.

Guest: thanks!

Princess Hinata Bug: thanks!

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