*We last left our heroes when Chiara had just fished a corpse out of the castle lake.*
Laurenza: Oh god! *Covers her mouth.*
Chiara: Ew, gross gross gross! *Quickly pulls her line away from the body.* Why is there a body in the lake?
Red: Someone dumped it there to hide the evidence.
Ares: Do you think so?
Red: It seems like the most logical scenario to me.
Laurenza: So you think someone killed this person and hid them in the lake? But that would suggest it was someone in the castle who did it…
Chiara: I didn't do it. Putting a body in the lake is a dumb idea, 'cos we go swimming in that! And the fish! Think about the poor fish having to swim near a dead guy!
Laurenza: Okay Chiara, we get the point. I didn't suspect you, anyway. The body looks like it might've been down there for a long time. So I don't think Rin or Ares could've done it either.
Ares: That's a relief.
Red: We should go ask the others if they know anything about it.

*Laurenza goes inside and asks the rest of the gang to come outside. They are soon all gathered on the lake's edge by the body.*
Chiara: *Runs to Tifanel and hides behind him.* Oh Tif, it's horrible!
Tifanel: What? *Notices the body.* Oh… Okay, that's gross.
Rin: *Watches Chiara and Tifanel, but uncharacteristically does not comment.*
Kitzie: Yuck! So icky!
Lahrne: Sure is! Looks like something outta a horror movie!
Laurenza: We found it in the lake.
Kitzie: Did something try and eat him? Have we got sharks? *Looks terrified.*
Thorn: *Smiles.* Don't worry.
Kuja: So… *Looks from the body to Laurenza.* Is there any particular reason you decided to brought us to look at it, other than to make us all lose our lunch?
Red: We think someone might have killed this person and dumped them in the lake to hide the body.
Thorn: And you think it was one of us that did it?
Red: It's possible.
Apathy: Yes, it's more likely to have been someone with easy access to the lake, in other words, someone who lives here.
Lierlo: Though I don't like to think that one of us killed this man.
Rin: *Looks at the body.* Do… do we know them?
Thorn: I don't think so.
Laurenza: Judging by how decayed it looks, I already thought it doesn't look recent enough for Rin, Ares or Chiara to have done it.
Kuja: A nice little alibi for them, I see. So I suppose that means the rest of us are going to get the third degree. Am I the only one irresistibly reminded of the Allen incident?
Apathy: *Gives him a piercing look.* It wasn't you again, was it, Kuja?
Kuja: No! I've given up lying about killing people now. It's much easier to tell the truth, so I would have said if I'd done it.
Ares: Then I wonder who it could have been.
Thorn: *Gives Lahrne a discreet, questioning look.*
Lahrne: *Shakes his head forcefully.*
*No one says anything for a few minutes. Rin stares at the body, looking rather unsettled, and remains quiet. Lierlo and Apathy have a closer inspection of the body. They look thoughtful.*
Tifanel: Doesn't look like anyone's gonna own up to it.
Laurenza: Maybe none of us did it after all. But if it wasn't murder… *She turns to Lierlo and Apathy.* Oh, what is it, you two?
Lierlo: I don't think the body has been here as long as we first thought.
Kuja: When did you become a forensics expert?
Apathy: You don't need to be a professional to figure this one out. *Gestures the body.* If it had been in the water for a long time, it would be a lot more… well, horrible to look at.
Chiara: You're saying it's not already?
Apathy: No, I know it's nasty… what with bits missing and everything, but that is just decomposition. If it had been in the water for a long time, it would have swelled up and looked quite hideous.
Kuja: Okay, this is just getting silly now. The body has already begun composition, suggesting they've been dead a while, but then someone dumped the body in the lake…
Lierlo: *Cuts in.* I'd say it has only been there for a couple of days maximum. As I said before, any longer and… well, you wouldn't bear to look at it at all.
Kuja: Right, so this body has been hanging around, dead and decaying quite happily somewhere else, then someone goes and shoves it in the lake? Am I missing the point here? If they were trying to hide the body, why go to all the trouble of shifting it into the lake if it was already well concealed where it was? I mean, I certainly didn't notice a festering corpse hanging around the castle.
Laurenza: Yeah… I know what you mean. I'm getting more confused by the second.
Ares: You're not the only one.
Chiara: This is weird! Did they like… dig up a rotting dead guy and drag them into the castle, then put them in the lake? That's crazy!
Tifanel: Why the hell would anyone wanna do that?
Lierlo: I know it's unbelievable, but that seems to have been what happened.
Apathy: *Leans close to the body.* Look at the filth lodged under the fingernails. That's ground-in dirt that the water couldn't wash away. I believe they had been underground for a good while before being moved here.
Kuja: Hmm… As ludicrous as it sounds, I'd have to agree. It does seem what Chiara said seems to be the only likely explanation: that someone dug up an already half-rotten body, brought it here and tossed it in the lake… If it were murder, they wouldn't have gone to all this trouble.
Thorn: But why do this at all?
Red: *Thinks for a moment.* Perhaps they weren't able to take it back to where it came from for some reason. They then hid the body in the lake because it was the fastest way of getting it out of sight. That's the only thing I can think of.
Lahrne: Yeah, if you were seen messing around in a graveyard, I guess people would think you weird coming back there.
Tifanel: Hold on, lemme see if I'm following… This ain't a murder we're lookin' at. If they were killin' someone, they'd leave 'em buried, right? So I reckon this is a body snatching.
Kitzie: Why steal a body?
Thorn: Maybe they were buried with something whoever dug them up wanted?
Lierlo: That seems to be the only reasonable explanation to me.
Laurenza: Oh, if that's what happened, it doesn't seem that crazy to me anymore.
Ares: We still need to know who did it and why, though.
Tifanel: Not the sorta thing you'd wanna admit to, is it?
Chiara: I hope you didn't do it, Tif!
Tifanel: No way! I've touched enough dead people to last me a lifetime!
*They all give him an odd look.*
Tifanel: What? I meant when I had to shift Lierlo and Allen's dead bodies those times…
Chiara: Ew, I bet your hands smelt like corpses.
Kitzie: Stinky stinky!
Kuja: Look, we could stand here talking about this body until the cows come home. I don't think anybody is going to shed any more light on the situation.
Thorn: That's assuming someone here knows more than they're letting on.
Laurenza: I hope not.
Apathy: *Turns to her sharply.* So the body just threw itself in the lake?
Ares: Let's not start arguing, everyone.
Lierlo: Yes, let's just leave the subject for now. We might find something more about it in time.

*They dispose of the body and the rest of the day passes without further event. We now rejoin Pyralis and his friend Faolan on the Metal Planet. They are outside, lying on their backs and gazing up at the glowing lights of the airships above. It is impossible to tell whether it is daytime or night, as the sky is always pitch black there. The body of a human is crumpled by their side, appearing to have been only freshly killed*
Faolan: *Leans over and paws at the corpse, sniffing it.*
Pyralis: *Hits him lightly.* Mine.
Faolan: I was just looking at it. Keep your fur on. *Smiles innocently, then moves away from it.*
Pyralis: *Puts his front paws behind his head, the twinkling lights overhead reflected in his pale eyes.* I can't wait until I'm in charge of the division.
Faolan: Yeah, that'll be great. You're arrogant, haughty and spiteful… everything a good young Overlord should be! You'll be much better than your father.
Pyralis: *Reacts as if that was a compliment and grins widely.* Isn't it the truth? And I'd make you my First General.
Faolan: *Sits up quickly.* You would? That's awesome!
Pyralis: Why not? You're loyal to me. Though I don't think you're quite ruthless enough, but that's nothing we can't fix.
Faolan: *Lies back, close to Pyralis, and speaks softly.* I'll do whatever you want me to, Chief.
*They lay in silence for a few moments, the only sounds coming from the roaring airships overhead. Pyralis then continues to speak as if he had not been interrupted.*
Pyralis: I mean, I can already fly the flagship better than anyone else. *Stands up and stretches, flexing his claws.* Then it's settled. Father's much too old for the position now, so I ought to kill him to make way for a new leader… Me.
Faolan: *Leaps up, looking mildly surprised.* Seriously?
Pyralis: Of course. Why are you hesitating, Fao? This is what I mean about you not being ruthless enough. I swear you act like a Humie sometimes. Come on. *Charges off towards his house.*
Faolan: *Stays where he is, looking really hurt, as if what he said is a harsh insult.* Do you really think that…? *Follows him.*

*Back at the castle, it is the next day. Laurenza, carrying Ana, walks into one of the chambers where some of the gang are gathered.*
Laurenza: *Lets out a loud sneeze.*
Ana: *Giggles.*
Laurenza: Heh heh, excuse me… Will someone please clean out the dungeons? I've just been down there and it's so dusty, and I think we might have rats.
Rin: Allow me to complete this undesirable task for you, my lady.
Tifanel: Yeah, I'll give you hand, Rin. It's a pretty nasty job, 'cos I've done it before.
Rin: Oh, that would be most kind of you, dear friend.
Laurenza: Thank you, you two.

*Rin and Tifanel, armed with cleaning products, descend the stairs to the dungeons. Having been in disuse for so long, Laurenza was not kidding when she said it needed a clean. The thick iron bars of the cells are caked with grime, and there is about an inch of dust on the floor beneath their feet. As well as some telltale droppings littered in the dust, coming from the nearby storeroom is a quiet scuffling and squeaking, suggesting the presence of rats.*
Tifanel: D'ya hear that? Laurenza was right 'bout those rats.
Rin: Do not worry yourself about me, as I have no fear of them. I'll be quite fine. Let's begin the cleanup.
*Tifanel and Rin begin scrubbing, dusting and wiping, and the dungeon starts to look much cleaner.*
Rin: So, how are you and my lovely daughter getting on?
Tifanel: Uh… fine. Y'know, like friends. We're good friends.
Rin: Good, and that's the way it should stay. *Gives Tifanel a slightly dangerous look.*
Tifanel: Heh heh… *Glances warily at Rin's cane propped up against a nearby wall.*
Rin: *Starts scouring a dirty smudge from a cell door and a spider threads itself down from the ceiling, before settling itself on his shoulder. He doesn't notice.*
Tifanel: *Reaches for a duster and spots the spider.* Hey Rin, y'know you've got a spider on your shoulder?
Rin: *Lets out an uncharacteristic squeal.* Eeeee! Get it off! *He flails about pathetically.* GET IT OFF!
Tifanel: *Watches him despairingly for a moment.* Oh come on! *Flicks the spider away without a second thought.*
Rin: *Looks incredibly relieved, as if Tifanel had just saved his life from a shark.* My goodness, that was horrible! I admire your bravery, friend. I couldn't bring myself to even go near one, never mind touch one. Just the thought of it makes my skin crawl.
Tifanel: Aw, don't be such a baby.
Rin: Well! Don't expect me to be sympathetic the next time you have a run-in with a snake!
Tifanel: …Touché.
Rin: Let's just continue our quest for cleanliness, shall we?

*They then move onto the storeroom to catch the rats. They spot one gnawing at the bottom of a barrel.*
Rin: Oh, we've found one!
Tifanel: Damn, it's kinda cute… I don't think I have the heart to kill 'em. Let's just round 'em up and let them free outside, 'kay?
Rin: That's fine by me. I don't think I could bring myself to slaughter them, either.
*They search out all the rats, and manage to capture them in a small box they brought. They also come across a dead rat that seems to have been there for at least a few days. It is starting to smell.*
Rin: *Makes a sudden grab for it.* Oh... *Looks a little embarrassed by his eagerness to take it.* I'll.. go and dispose of this.
Tifanel: *Gives him a strange look for a moment.* Uh… sure.
*Rin heads up the dungeon stairs, the dead rat dangling by its tail in his hand. He stops on the ground floor for a moment, then heads towards the bins. He is just about to drop the rat in but he stops himself, tucks it into his pocket and runs upstairs to his room. He then returns to the dungeon to help Tifanel finish the job. After it is done, Rin settles himself in a nice armchair for a rest and dozes off.*

*Once again, we return to Pyralis and Faolan in the Demon's den. There is no sign of Spyridon. It seems a short amount of time has passed since we last saw them. We can assume the mating season has arrived, as Pyralis appears to be sprucing himself up in a Demonic way, fluffing his hair and rubbing himself against the filth in the room. Faolan, however, is simply curled up on the floor, looking moody.
Pyralis: *Examines the effect in a crooked and greasy mirror.* What do you think?
Faolan: *Coolly.* Fine. I bet the females will be fighting each other to have your children.
Pyralis: *Wheels round and pushes him against the wall suddenly.* I could do without your sarcasm, Faolan. What is wrong with you lately? *Puts his face very close to Faolan's and bares his fangs.*
Faolan: *Says nothing. He appears to be savouring the moment of Pyralis being so close to him for some reason.*
Pyralis: *Doesn't notice this. He snarls and backs off.* I don't have to waste my time with you. I have mates to choose. *Leaves, swishing his tail as he goes.*
Faolan: *Gives him a couple of seconds start, then slips out after him.*

*Back at the castle, Tifanel is in the laundry room, busy doing the washing. He unloads a clean batch from the tumble dryer into a basket. He picks it up and goes to deliver each item to its owner, humming to himself. After returning Lahrne his favourite shirts, giving Kitzie her socks and somewhat awkwardly handing over a few rather naughty negligees to Red, he comes to Rin's room.*
Tifanel: *Knocks on the door.* Hey Rin, open up. I've got your delicates here, all nice 'n clean.
*There is no answer.*
Tifanel: Right, guess he ain't in there. *Opens the door and lets himself in.*
*As soon as he enters, a rancid, stomach-churning smell practically whacks him in the face.*
Tifanel: Oh jeezus! *Coughs some.* What the hell is that smell? *Starts looking for the source of the stench.*
*He discovers it is coming from a shoebox stowed under Rin's bed. The lid is on, but the smell is seeping through the small gaps under it.*
Tifanel: Ugh… what could be in here? *Whips the lid off.* Oh shit…! *Covers his nose and mouth and slams the lid back on.*
*Tifanel rushes out the room, shoebox under his arm, looking for Rin. Along the way, he bumps into Thorn.*
Thorn: What's wrong, Tifanel?
Tifanel: I think I'm gonna puke. You'll never believe what I just found under Rin's bed.
Thorn: What?
Tifanel: Brace yourself… *He opens the box slowly. The box is stuffed full of small, dead animals, including the rat from the dungeons. They are all starting to decompose.*
Thorn: What the…?
Tifanel: Why would he keep a box of dead stuff under his bed?
Thorn: *Looks thoughtful for a moment.* I don't know…
Tifanel: I'm gonna go ask him. This is creepy and gross, and I wanna get to the bottom of this.
Thorn: I don't know. You did go through his things to find that. Maybe it's his business.
Tifanel: Yeah, but I reckon it's our business if he's stinkin' the place down with dead crap. Really, it wasn't hard to find it!
Thorn: Oh, okay then.
*They go off to look for Rin.*

*Meanwhile, Rin is still snoozing in a chair in one of the chambers. We once again view a scene on the Metal Planet. It is much later on in the day since we last saw them. Faolan returns to his home, with a strange expression of anger and satisfaction fixed on his face. His fur is stained with stark blood. He flops down on a pile of dirty rags, and does not notice the faint outline of Pyralis in a dark corner.*
Pyralis: You're late back, Faolan.
Faolan: *Jumps a little at the sound of his voice, but quickly composes himself.* So I am.
Pyralis: How many did you do?
Faolan: *Shrugs.* Lost count.
Pyralis: *Waits for him to ask him the same question, but Faolan sits in silence. He comes out of the shadows towards him.* Don't you want to know how many-- *Stops mid-sentence as he notices the blood on Faolan's body.* Blood… *Sniffs him all over.* The blood of my race.
Faolan: *Gives another indifferent shrug.* Yeah, I killed some tonight.
Pyralis: *Doesn't seem at all reproachful, but instead gives him a look of respect. He grins.* So what did they do to deserve it? Did they give you cheek? *Laughs.* I hope you eviscerated them.
Faolan: *Doesn't even smirk.* …Yeah.
Pyralis: *Lets out a snarl.* There it is again! That attitude! Would you mind telling me what's up with you? You're really pissing me off lately, so I might have to kill you.
Faolan: You found three mates tonight.
Pyralis: What? *Looks taken aback by this seemingly out-of-the-blue statement.* How do you know that?
Faolan: *Stands up, his fur bristling and his voice shaking a little.* I didn't spend my evening looking for mates because I followed you instead. I watched you do them all. Then I waited until they were alone and killed them!
Pyralis: *Looks momentarily stunned, but quickly looks very angry.* They were going to have my children! *Roars with fury.* I'll tear your heart out and eat it, bastard! *Lunges at him, slashing the stinger on his tail downwards.*
Faolan: *Ejects his paw-blades and stabs it back.* Tell me why I did it! Tell me!
Pyralis: How should I know? You're just a freak, Faolan, so shut up and die! *Opens his second mouth and a long, sticky tongue shoots towards Faolan. It is dripping with an acid-like liquid. It wraps around one of his stabbing paws and seems to burn him.*
Faolan: *Screams piercingly.*

*Rejoining the action at the castle, Tifanel and Thorn have found Rin sleeping away in the armchair. Tifanel shakes Rin gently.*
Tifanel: Hey Rin, wake up, will ya?
Rin: Mmm… what? *Is roused from his dreams and he yawns.* Oh, hello dear friends. What can I do for you?
Tifanel: Uh, well… We came to ask you 'bout this... *Shows him the box.*
Rin: Shoes?
Thorn: No…
Tifanel: *Cracks the lid open a bit so Rin gets a good look inside.*
Rin: Oh my… *Looks a little nervous.* Wherever did you find that…?
Tifanel: Under your bed.
Rin: *Now seems very embarrassed.* How unusual, I wonder how it got there...!
Thorn: We were hoping you could tell us that.
Rin: *Sighs a little.* ...I'm not lying my way out of this particularly gracefully, am I?
Tifanel: Nope.
Thorn: So, are you going to tell us why you collect dead animals under your bed?
Rin: Um… *Looks like he doesn't know what to say.* It is a very good question, but I am afraid I don't have a very good answer for it, friend. *Takes the box from Tifanel and walks off.*
Tifanel: What? Is that all he's gonna say?
Thorn: Just leave him, Tifanel. If it's a secret he doesn't want us to know about, we have to respect his wishes.
Tifanel: Yeah… okay. See ya around, Thorn. *Walks off.*
Thorn: *Sighs and goes to find Kuja.*

*Thorn finds Kuja in his room, sat on his bed with Ana and Tabitha. Ana is playing with a teddy bear, and Tabitha is curled up on Kuja's lap whilst he brushes her hair.*
Ana: *Looks up at Thorn, waving the bear.* Baaa!
Thorn: *Smiles a little.* Hello Ana.
Kuja: Look at me, lumbered with two children. I'm a real family man now, aren't I? I thought I'd never have kids…
Thorn: *Sits next to him.* Heh heh…
Kuja: *Puts the brush down and strokes Tabitha.* Is there something wrong, Thorn?
Thorn: I was just thinking about Rin.
Kuja: Pfft, rather you than me.
Thorn: No, I mean I think he's hiding something from us.
Ana: *Drops her teddy in Thorn's lap.*
Kuja: *Takes it and gives it back to her.* What like?
Thorn: Well, Tifanel found a box of dead animals under Rin's bed.
Kuja: Oh, that's lovely. Did you ask Rin for an explanation?
Thorn: Yes, but he wouldn't tell us. Also, I never told you, but a few nights ago, I found him in the Royal Crypt. After that and now the box… well, I think he might have been involved with the body we found in the lake.
Kuja: Okay… as weird as that might be, I'm having a hard time being freaked out. I think I must have been desensitised to odd things living here. *Grins.*
Thorn: But what do you think? What's the reason for him doing these things?
Kuja: I wouldn't worry too much, Thorn. There might be a very simple explanation, like he has a morbid fascination with death or something. Something like that is pretty harmless… Gross, but harmless. If he wants to poke dead animals with a stick, I say we let him, but if he doesn't want to admit he does it because he's embarrassed… *Shakes his head.* Who are we to force it out of him? I didn't really want to admit to everyone that I snuck out at night to eat wings.
Thorn: Hmm… maybe you're right.
Kuja: Just as long he doesn't start killing people, eh?
Thorn: Heh heh, yeah.
Ana: *Drops the teddy on Thorn again and giggles.*