The Cat has Got to be Found!

Kiko walked down the street in her new costume with Emma, carrying fliers. Her new cosplay comprised of a tight black tanktop and skirt, fishnet leggings and a pair of black cat ears on her head.

"See, now I even match Mi-chan!" Kiko exclaimed, looking at the picture of the lost cat on the top of her stack. "We're sure to find it at this rate! So, where do you want to head first?"

Emma was also wearing her new costume - a frilly black dress with frothy skirts, a black cat's tail poking out between layers, and detached sleeves with matching black tights and shiny black shoes with tall cork soles. A collar choker was fastened around her neck, a large silver bell hanging from the front and cat ears - as per usual - clipped into her hair.

"Maybe we should check where she was last seen, or by a local fish shop? Hmm... if I was a kitty, where would I be..."

"Hey, why don't we try the park! I've seen a lot of cats around there, and we can also find lots of kids and places to hand out fliers! Besides, I really want to show off my new look, nya~!" She batted Emma playfully.

Emma giggled and looped her arm around Kiko's. "Let's go, nya~!"

As they entered the park, they found plenty of kids playing around, but Kiko raised her voice for an announcement.

"Hey, listen up, kids! Who wants to play a game with us?!"

Her loud and adorable voice caught all the kids' attention, and they turned toward them curiously.

"And you're saying she knew about Tsuriko all along?"

"Yeah... Looks like she just wanted us to find her body. There probably wasn't even a cat all along."

"Man, that sucks! Are we even going to get the rest of our payment?"

"Ahhh, about that! I actually talked to her and she gave us the rest of the payment. I'll talk to you more about it when I get back."

"Ah, whatever," said Kiko, hanging up the phone. She and Emma sat in a park across from the Homerun Cafe, near the playground equipment. As they talked, the daughter of the Cafe's owner brought out some cat food for the cat that frequented the park. "What's he going to say when I found out I spent the forward payment already?"

"I don't think he'll be too upset as long as he got the rest." Emma hopped off of the park bench and walked over to the cat, immediately charmed.

"Yeah, I suppose not," Kiko sighed. "I wonder what he's been up to though? Even after we got back home, he was off investigating for so many days. I think he's hiding something! I might have to wring it out of him when we get back to the office."

The cat purred as it started feasting on the cat food that was laid out.

Emma squatted by the cat, cooing. "What a sweet kitty!" She lifted her head to look up at the girl. "Are you the owner?"

"Oh, nope! Hernandez is kind of a stray that comes by a lot for food. Then it just goes and runs away! Oh, wait..." She bent over and got a closer look at the cat. "This isn't Hernandez..."

The cat looked up at Emma and meowed cheerfully, it's yellow eyes and black nose rather unique.

"Ahh, that's it!" Kiko shouted suddenly, jumping up. "It's Mi-chan!"

"Then she DOES exist! At least there's one thing about this case that isn't totally messed up." Emma held out her arms, coaxing the cat to come closer, her voice gentle and soft. "Good kitty, come here..."

Mi-chan meowed and leaped into her arms and pressed against her, meowing.

"Didn't think we'd find her this easily... I mean, we sorta stopped looking. Hey, since the widow did trick those guys into getting in trouble with the police... I think we should keep it."

Emma frowned. "Kiko, that's catnapping. Besides, Kurosawa-san doesn't like cats." Emma couldn't help but melt a little when she looked into the cat's eyes. "It is pretty tempting, though..."

"And she did already pay us everything."

Mi-chan cuddled further into Emma, meowing happily.

"AND IT'S SO CUTE!"

Emma bit her lip in thought. "Well... I suppose if we find a place to keep her... why not? ♥"

"Yay!♥" cheered Kiko, scooping up Mi-chan and huggling her too. The cat didn't seem to like her as much, however, and struggled out of her grasp and back to Emma. "Oh well, I suppose it's gonna have to grow to like me!" She put on her black cat ears and batted at Emma. "Isn't that right, nya~n?"

She nodded cheerfully, but quickly grew more serious. "I don't know what we'll say if we get caught, though. I'm not going to lie, and she seemed to care for Mi-chan so much. It still doesn't feel right in my heart."

"Aww, such a party pooper," she said, frowning. "Well, if you think it's the right thing to do, I'm not going to stop you..."

"We should at least give them the chance to reunite. Where did she live again?"

"Ah, what was it again? Oh yes!" She drew a business card from her pocket. "Here it is. We might as well go now!"

Emma walked with Kiko to the mansion, holding the cat in her arms. The girls made quick work of the walk, and Emma approached the door and knocked.

The widow opened the door. "Oh, it's you two! And.... it's Mi-chan!" she exclaimed in excitement, taking her from Emma quickly and spinning around with her. "Where did you find her?"

"At the park! I'm glad we found her, she's sooo sweet."

"That's my Mi-chan for you! Well, come on in and I'll give you the other half of the payment."

"Huh? But, Guy said you already paid him the second half for his trouble."

"No... Actually I haven't seen them since they stormed out some time ago."

Kiko glanced at Emma, a suspicious look on her face. She wondered what Guy was hiding...

"Not to rush or anything, but we should definitely catch up with them soon..."