Case of the Costume Killer

This fic is pure humor with a bit a crack and some drama. The idea for this fic came about on the way to Ohayocon and came from two sleep deprived and caffeine high people. If that bothers you, please don't send flames. Flames will be fed to Clooney. Constructive crit is ALWAYS welcome though!


Disclaimer: Criminal Minds is not mine. I'm writing this for fun and making not a single red cent off it.

Chapter 1 – The Case


Silence. Were one to enter the BAU conference room that is all they would hear as Jennifer – JJ – Jareau distributed the case files to each of her team mates. Normally the team would already have glanced over the board and be bouncing theories off each other by this point. Instead they were staring at the board in what could only be described as a mix of shock and confusion. Even Hotch, their stoic leader, was having trouble keeping a completely straight face. Only Spencer Reid seemed to be unfazed and was scanning the case file while the others gawked.


Taking her place at the front of the room, JJ began the briefing. "July of last year, Amy Sanders and Bridget Moore were both found dead in Baltimore, Maryland during a convention called Otakon. January of this year, Emma Higgins and Sandra Lang were found dead in Columbus , Ohio at another convention – Ohayocon. In February during Katsucon in DC, the bodies of Lora Weston and Amanda Edgley were discovered. All six victims were found in secluded areas of the convention, their throats slashed. The killings were spaced apart, one late Saturday night and the other Sunday afternoon. Each murder has taken place at an 'Anime' convention. Because the conventions are states apart, law enforcement officials didn't connect them until recently." As she finished, JJ stepped away from the board. The agents once again had an unobstructed view of the crime scene photos. The pictures peppered the board. Six young women forever immortalized in death, caught on film. Each girl was in one costume or another, now ruined by their own blood.


Derek Morgan was the first to break to awkward silence. "Anime?" he questioned, one brow raised. "It's short for Japanese Animation. It's an animation style which first became a pop culture main stream in 1964 with Osamu Tezuka's 'Astroboy'. Anime has sparked a huge subculture and fan base here in the United States since. As well as highly influenced American animation. Some even argue that the Disney movie 'The Lion King' is practically an American version of 'Kimba the White Lion' by Tezuka Pro. Which given – " Reid was cut off mid-rant by Morgan's next question. "So… cartoons?" At Reid's annoyed huff, Morgan amended himself, "Japanese Cartoons". Prentiss, who's eyes had been glued to the board with an almost horrific fascination, finally tore her gaze away and voiced the question that was on the forefront of most everyone's minds. "Why… are they… in costume?"


"It's called 'Cosplay" Honey." Garcia chimed in, having just arrived in a few moments before hand. "And it's kinda fun," she said with a smirk. All heads in the room turned towards her. "Baby-girl…" Morgan began, but found he didn't quite know how to finish. "Cosplay," Prentiss said as if testing the word. She then raised a hand in Reid's direction, effectively stemming off the flow of information she knew was about to spill forth. "No… I don't want to know." Reid shrugged, giving her a shy smile, before returning his attention to the case file in his hands. Once more, the room fell into silence before JJ spoke again. "So far the UnSub has hit only major conventions with attendance in the eight thousands and up range. The next convention that fits this category is Anime Central, held in Rosemont Convention Center which is located right outside of Chicago. Local law enforcement has asked us to step in."


Thus far, Hotch had remained quiet. He glanced over everything on the board and in the case file as JJ spoke. An odd sense of dread had started to build in his stomach since he was handed the file. Trying to mentally shake it off, he turned to his team. "Get your go-bags. We leave in one hour." As he turned and strode out of the room, he felt the dread settle like a rock in his gut.

CMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMC

An hour and a half later found the team in the air, en-route to Chicago's O'Hare Airport where they would be met by the officers who had been assigned to the case. According to JJ, they would receive further briefing on the situation from said officers.


Sitting in the back of the jet, David Rossi watched his team mates under the guise of perusing the file once more. This was not their usual case and Rossi couldn't help but be slightly amused by the various reactions each team member was having to the unusual subject matter. JJ and Prentiss had pulled out a laptop and were doing some research of their own while Reid attempted to explain some of the various concepts of the "anime genre", as the young genius had called it, to Morgan. From where he was sitting, Rossi had heard words such as "Mecha", "Sentai", "Harem" – which had perked some curiosity – and "Magical Girl".


"Magical… girl? Pretty Boy, what the hell? And WHY do you know this stuff? I thought you were into Sci-Fi and what not." Morgan's head actually hurt at this point. He knew Reid was practically the human equivalent of an encyclopedia, but this was a bit much. It took geek-dom to a whole knew level in his opinion. Or maybe he just honestly didn't get it. With a mental shrug, Morgan tried to pay attention as Reid expanded on what was apparently one of the most popular genres. That was until a small shriek followed by an "OH MY GOD!" and the sound of the laptop slamming shut interrupted.


Hotch had been lost deep in thought, still perturbed by the unexplainable feeling of dread. His head snapped up immediately at the noise, attention refocusing to his agents. JJ was sporting a rather deep blush and Prentiss had a look of abject horror on her face. Both women turned slowly towards Reid, matching glares aimed the their resident genius. Reid seemed to be trying to disappear into his seat. And Hotch couldn't blame him. At that moment, the two women were terrifying. A soft nearly squeaked "What?" from Reid only caused their glares to intensify. After another moment or two, Prentiss finally spoke. "You failed to mention the porn." "There were tentacles…" JJ added. At that, Reid's eyes grew impossibly wide.


In the back of the jet, Rossi was chuckling quietly to himself. It would be interesting to see how Reid got himself out of this one.

CMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCM

By the time they landed, Reid had decided that he was never making his female team mates angry again. Morgan had decided that FBI women didn't need a gun to be scary. And Rossi was officially very amused. They exited the jet to find an unmarked navy blue Crown Victoria parked on the tarmac. Leaning casually against the hood of the car was a young woman in a green button down shirt, black vest, and matching black pants. Over her shoulders was a deep brown shoulder holster, the CPD shield displayed prominently on the left strap. Seeing them approach, she stood and met them half way. Brushing dark curls behind an ear, she extended a hand to Hotch. "Agent Hotchner, I presume?"


Taking her extended hand, Hotch was almost surprised at the firm handshake he received. "SSA Aaron Hotchner. This is SSA David Rossi, SSA Derek Morgan, SSA Jennifer Jareau, SSA Emily Prentiss, and Dr. Spencer Reid." Hotch indicated each member of his team as he introduced them. "Detective Kathryn O'Conner, Chicago PD", the woman introduced herself with a smile. Rossi quirked a brow as he spoke "Detective… at your age?" Kathryn laughed good naturedly at his question. "I'm older than I look" she answered with a playful wink. "Before you ask… I'm 28," she finished with another smile.


To say the team was surprised would be an under statement. The women before them looked like she couldn't be older than 19. "I get that question all the time, so it's no big. Tends to come in handy most of the time." She added with a shrug. Rossi could see how that was possible, given that everyone present stood at least a good few inches over her. Morgan and Reid standing over a foot taller. Add in her rounded face and large green eyes… Rossi could definitely see how that was possible. She seemed oddly care free for a police detective though, which he found odd. As she led them back towards the car, Rossi decided he was going to have fun figuring this girl out.


"I must apologize. There were supposed to be two of us meeting you, but Dani had something come up on one of her cases so she's running a bit late." Kathryn explained as she popped the trunk of the Crown Vic and began moving a few things around in an effort to make some extra room. The sound of tires screeching around a near by corner caught her attention. Head popping up from it's previously stooped position with a small frown, "Well speak of the devil."


A fire-engine red four-door coupe came to an abrupt halt a few feet away. A moment later, the door opened and a tall very blonde woman stepped out. What caught the BAU team's attention however was how she was dressed. A vibrant purple Chinese top adorned her top half while a knee length black skirt, complete with large slits up the left side, and thigh high black boots covered her lower half. Her bright blonde hair was tied back in a messy bun, held by a pair of chopsticks. As she walked towards them, she removed a pair of large designer sunglasses .With a roll of her eyes, Kathryn stepped around the car and toward the other woman. Hands on her hips she practically glared at the blonde. " You were already running late. You couldn't take a little extra time to CHANGE?"


The blonde simply smirked. "As you said… I was already late." Turning back towards the BAU, the blonde introduced herself, "Detective Danielle McKorn". Hotch couldn't help but blink as both women turned towards his team. The two were almost exact opposites. The blonde stood almost a foot over the other woman. Where Kathryn was dark, Danielle was pale and visa versa. Even their personalities, from what he had seen thus far, were on complete opposite ends of the spectrum. He was even more surprised when the smaller woman proceeded to introduce his team.


Once she was finished, Danielle gave a "Nice t' meet ya!" and a wink at Reid. Reid proceeded to turn a very bright shade of red, which caused the tall blonde to laugh. Shaking her head in exasperation, Kathryn then looked back to the team with what Hotch could only describe as a concerned smile. "You probably want to get settled and start working. It's way past lunch, let's go grab something and Dani and I will read you in. Is Red Robbin's alright?"


"Red Robbin's?" At Prentiss' question, both CPD detectives looked aghast. "You've never been to a Red Robbin?!" Danielle voiced the question after a moment. "I guess that would make sense… Red's isn't in a lot of places yet." Kathryn explained, then added "It think you'll like it. And they can easily seat all of us. Come on… it will be our treat." At that, she gave another of what Rossi had already pegged as her signature smile, and made her way to the driver's side of the car. Peaking over the roof of the car, over which she could be barely seen, Kathryn spoke once more. "So… who's riding with whom?"