Monthly Archives: June 2013

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Re: HAKUBA’S MOTIVE

phantom-thief-kid:

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Oh, crap… He definitely broke Hakuba. Or, at least, it was a crash and required a bit of time for a reboot, to use a computer metaphor.

Kaito put his hand on Hakuba’s shoulder, him pressing the other on Hakuba’s chest. “Breathe. Sit down if you have to. It’s a big thing to wrap your head around. Not every day you hear that someone has somehow defied the aging process in such a radical way.”

Hakuba swallowed hard and tried, desperately, to steady himself with Kaito’s assistance. He shivered under Kaito’s hands, while his own wiped furiously at at the tears in his eyes. Then he laughed, and it was only very slightly hysterical.

“I.. think…” The detective said, leaning more and more toward Kaito with every passing second. “I think.. sitting down is.. a good… idea.”

Or, you know, fainting. Which is what Hakuba did next.  

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Re: HAKUBA’S MOTIVE

phantom-thief-kid:

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A smirk. “My, my, detective. Cat got your tongue?”

Teasing was probably unwise. His expression softened. Did he manage to break Hakuba? This was very un-Hakuba-like behavior, gaping mouth and silent, with no barb or retort. “…But, really, I warn you that this whole affair is such a mess that I shudder to think of it. I’m just at the periphery of all of this, so I cannot tell you much.

“…Are you okay, Hakuba?”

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Hakuba barely heard Kaito over the roar of words within his head. The hand over his mouth moved to his forehead and he hesitated, trembling. Already, he was mentally combining case files and merging the complex timelines together and 

it

all 

fit.

The detective swayed here he stood, bringing his other hand to join the other, now covering his eyes as he attempted to grasp the gravity of this discovery. 

“I.. ah, just.. need.. a moment, Kaito-kun,” he managed with some difficulty. 

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hangingsentence:

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“I have not changed any since we last MET. I trust matters are pleasant on your side of THINGS?”

If the slight term of endearment was noticed, she didn’t bring attention to it. For once such an easy distraction was welcomed—she was hoping a certain warden was not the cause of this sudden load of work.

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“They remain about the same; neither here nor there.” Which was Hakuba’s way of saying that life was, as always, difficult and painful, but he was pretending that everything was fine. But that is why he was there in the first place, wasn’t he?

“Have you eaten yet?”

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Re: HAKUBA’S MOTIVE

phantom-thief-kid:

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Kaito just stared and blinked for a moment. Hakuba took it the wrong way in the worst meaning possible. “Yes, he is safe.

“Let’s leave it like this, if you’re so annoyed with my riddles. He leads a double life because he, I think, managed to piss off similar people that are after KID. He is not who you think he is. Conan Edogawa does not exist in birth records or school records before a certain year.

“It may not be prudent to reveal others’ secrets, but circumstances dictate it’s more prudent now.” …Particularly with that Bourbon guy lurking around. It was still why Kaito kept avoiding the agency, too, even though that guy wouldn’t recognize him. Hakuba barging in would be unwise, as Kaito honestly had no idea of what the situation inside was and that could end with Hakuba getting shot. “Let’s just say that time has reversed for him physically, but not mentally. He appears much younger than his real self.

“He is the Azure Dragon. He is Hattori’s detective counterpart when keeping in mind the whole of Japan. He is your detective counterpart in Tokyo. Understand now, detective?”

There was very clear relief on Hakuba’s face when Kaito was able to confirm, at least, that Edogawa Conan was not, in fact, the victim of a case of domestic abuse. This relief dwindled, however, as the other teenager continued on. 

Hakuba listened quietly, patiently, assembling each tidbit of information as he received it. These were processed and set in position similarly to best-guess numbers in a Sudoku puzzle, and left to ruminate while he collected more information. No decisions were reached, no conclusions made. 

But even with his mental processes ticking away at profiling and tagging each piece of puzzle, the detective’s body reacted as if he weren’t such a rational, logical, human being. He tensed, jaw setting firm, and stared at Kaito with a fierce intensity that betrayed the slowly boiling horror in the back of his mind.

Oddly enough, it was the dragon comment that snapped the whole picture into place and it clicked like a light switch. The resulting audible gasp was one that Hakuba had absolutely no capacity to hold back.

He opened his mouth to speak, but the words – of which there were thousands, all competing for a chance to be set loose – didn’t manage to make it out. Hakuba tried again, mouth moving not unlike a koi begging for feed, and finally closed his mouth tightly, one hand lifting to cover it, such was his shock. And surprise. 

Everything suddenly made sense. Mostly. 

The detective looked to Kaito, wide eyes pleading for some kind of… answer? Reassurance? But he had no words. None that he could form into any sort of coherent sentence, question or otherwise. 

And thus, Hakuba was rendered completely speechless. 

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hangingsentence:

“Ah… <Mr.> Hakuba. My apologies for not paying closer ATTENTION.”

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Nothing but piles of stacks of paperwork neatly towering the area around her workspace—and who knew which stack was done and which ones were still in need of looking over? Honestly, it would have been a miracle indeed if the petite inquisitor spotted the man beforehand. “I can certainly manage the TIME. Quite truthfully, I have been needing the break from all this PAPERWORK.”

“Indeed, Miss Knox. Allow me to assist in distracting you from this endless sea of what appears to be bureaucratic busywork. How have you been, my dear?”

He hoped that the bit of verbal affection would not be taken the wrong way or considered too informal. Hakuba was honestly pleased to see her again. 

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Re: HAKUBA’S MOTIVE

phantom-thief-kid:

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“You think I’m threatening him? No. What happened to him happened before I met him.“ He may not get along very well with Kudou, but he wouldn’t force that fate upon anyone.

“But let’s just say that there is a certain river with only one current. Somehow, despite how so many have tried to swim against the current, he managed to, without losing his intellect in the slightest. Understand the river is something we all are in.”

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“I’m not certain if you were aware or not, but I have never enjoyed working through your riddles." 

This admission on Hakuba’s part came with an irritated, but somewhat sheepish, roll of his eyes. The language barrier was something that he had worked at extensively, but no matter how studious he was, there would always be more Japanese word play references than he could possibly grasp. Every riddle of Kaitou’s was eventually solved, true – he kept up with the heists even when overseas – but it always took him far too long for his comfort and pride.

"Is Edogawa-kun all right? Is he safe? Do I need to step in, some how, to guarantee that he is in a positive environment?" 

Clearly, the detective had misunderstood. The ache in his heart was strong and he wondered, intentions good but misplaced, if he ought to be leaving to make a trip to the Mouri Detective Agency at that moment to rectify whatever horrible situation the boy had been put in. From one kindred spirit to another… he would do whatever it took! 

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hangingsentence:

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“HELLO. Do you have business with the Great Court of HEAVEN?”

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“Miss Knox, a pleasure to see you this fine evening… I hope that I’m not interrupting anything too important?”

Hakuba inclined his head toward her, giving a smile and a nod in greeting, respectful and polite but with a hint of playful teasing. 

“I was wondering if you might have time for a spot of tea, or supper, perhaps?" 

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okiya-subaru:

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Subaru entered Hakuba’s number, then gave his own. “You may prefer that, but I am very secretive about my email. I prefer some measure of privacy.”

And he didn’t have an e-mail associated with this identity. Well, aside from one involving his college, but that was strictly for school. (That was something he needed to remedy, but it had slipped his mind, what with all the things going on recently.)

Hakuba hesitated after he put the number in, slowly lifting his gaze to look over at Okiya again. “Ah, of course… I completely understand.” He hit the save function on his phone, then slipped it back into his pocket, sheepish. This man was definitely not a typical engineer; he was far too cautious for that. Most people that he talked to willingly surrendered mountains of information as if they wanted to be taken advantage of. It always surprised him. But not this man. 

The detective decided that he did, indeed, like Okiya Subaru. And that made him quite pleased.

“Thank you, once again… It’s been a pleasure, Okiya-san.”