Monthly Archives: September 2014

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Psst.

Psst: Three things that I’ve always wanted to tell you. 

  1. I… I really have it bad for that white suit of yours.
  2. Sometimes I watch you during class and think about kissing you… it’s quite distracting.
  3. I’ve always wanted to try to tame your wild, wild… hair. No, really; I keep some styling gel and a comb in my bag, and I… I’ve been so sorely tempted, so many times, to just walk up and play hairstylist… but I somehow think that would be unwelcome and may, in fact, be regarded as inappropriate. Nevertheless, the struggle is real. 
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The Interim

smokebombsandmirrors:

Kaito had froze wide eyed and terrified. Hakuba was leaving. He was going to leave Japan. That was for the best …. The heists will be easier … . He stared at the water bottle in his hand then launched it across the dinning room where it hit with a loud thunk and exploding water. “DAMN IT!!”

A soft coo pulled him from his thoughts. Keena and Mari, his pure white dove, were sitting on the back of the sofa. Under Mari’s foot was his monocle. He leaped. “Good girl, Mari! take it to Hakuba and please pray that this does not piss him off further. Keena please go with her.”

Kaito slowly slid to the floor in the kitchen his strength finally fading. Crouched over himself he waited for the door to slam shut and the possible string of curse words. He also waited for Hakuba to walk right out of his life forever.

“You are a stupid, contradicting fool, Kuroba Kaito. Who can’t even tell a friend you don’t want him you go.” He buried his face into his knees. “I’m sorry , Hakuba.

image

Hakuba had just managed to exchange the house slippers for his shoes when the birds found him, one on each shoulder. He sighed, letting his head hang for a moment before turning to look at each of them – and the monocle. Curiously, he held a hand out for it and frowned as it ended up in his palm. He’d heard the water bottle, the exclamation, and now Kuroba’s birds were bringing him evidence. 

Is he mocking me? He wondered, both hurt and furious. But there was another thought – a peace offering? 

No. Certainly not. He held the monocle very carefully in his palm, fingers curled protectively, and offered his hand to each bird, transferring them to the top of the shoe cubby. Then he stood, took out his handkerchief, and wiped it down of any fingerprint. "No, little one, I’m not to see this, or touch it,” he said, showing it to her before setting it down between the two. “You let your master know, will you?”

After a little head skritch for them both, he stepped up to the door… then rested his forehead against it, warring with himself. What had he hoped for? That Kuroba would beg him to stay? He’d given good advice – follow the path you’d dreamed of. But could he leave his work unfinished? It hadn’t been his original intention- to capture Spider, then to arrest Kid  -the game had changed to one of protection, but it was still no less important. 

Yet, if Kuroba didn’t want his help… what was the point in delaying the inevitable defeat? 

He left, closing the door quietly behind him and pulled until he heard the soft click to know that it had been properly closed.

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Sherlock knocked promptly on the door in front of him. According to his research this was where the young detective lived. “I need to stay here for a short time. You understand this sort of thing and the reasons so surely it must be fine.”

“M-Mr. Holmes!" 

Hakuba stared at the man on the other side of the door, blinking in surprise. He hadn’t expected to see him again for quite some time, let alone right at his doorstep. Presently, his mind worked through the request and a bit of color came to his face. Sherlock Holmes wanted to stay with him? He glanced over his shoulder and into the mansion for a moment, empty and quiet except for the occasional staff member milling about, doing their work. 

Well, it wasn’t as if they didn’t have the accommodations. 

He swallowed, turning back to his idol and nodded, forcing a brave smile. It was his duty to be a good host. 

"Of course you’ll stay here. Please, do come in. Let me take your coat. I’ll have someone prepare a room for you immediately. Would you like some tea?”

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The Interim

smokebombsandmirrors:

That was all he needed to know. Kaito felt a smile slowly work its way across his face. A crazy unhinged smile that held a laugh behind it. This crazy detective. Taking in why expression he stepped aside, sobered his expression, and whistled twice.

“I shouldn’t have pushed like that. I know you hate him. It just caught me off guard.” Kaito said and watched the stairs.

Hakuba turned away from him, reaching for the wooden box of tea on the table in a huff, then gathered up his letters to stuff them back into the inside pocket of his suit jacket. “I don’t believe that I need you to tell me how I feel about anyone,” he snapped, ears pink with the heat of his broiling emotions. 

He briskly moved past him, turning only once he was just ahead to offer a polite bow, though the scowl stayed fixed firmly in place. “Thank you for the tea. Good day, Kuroba-kun. I hope you have a wonderful life.”

As much as it hurt to be leaving like this, but the detective couldn’t see any other alternative, not with Kaito laughing at him. He turned stiffly on his heel again and marched for the door.  It had been a mistake to come. 

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The Interim

smokebombsandmirrors:

“Damn it, wait!!” Kaito shouted and blocked the detective with his body. Which his broken ribs managed to scream at him for the sudden movement.  "If you had the chance to catch him, would you do it?!“

He was dead serious. There was a small warning bells going off in his head saying that he should stop.  

Hakuba stopped short at the sudden roadblock, drawing back with a frown of surprise, then severe annoyance. As he looked down at his former classmate, the words caught in his throat. How much could he say without getting into trouble? He was truly caught within the barriers of wanting to clear his own conscience and protecting the damned boy before him. 

He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, fingers twitching as they went for the watch in his pocket, though he didn’t bring it out- only brushed his thumb over the engraved cover while he thought.

"I’ve already had plenty of opportunity, Kuroba-kun, and I have not taken them, nor will I at this juncture. But even if you don’t believe that…” he said, making no attempt to disguise the contempt in his voice as he looked away, equal parts embarrassed and frustrated. “…no. I would not arrest Kaitou Kid. And in that way, I know I have failed… but I believe it is worth it." 

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The Interim

smokebombsandmirrors:

The magician/thief blinked at him wide eyed before tilting his head in confusion. That was unexpected but it was also such a let down.

“So you’re just going to give up?" Kaito said before thinking about it but that offended him. He always gave it his all. He thought that even though they went at each other throat they had fun. The detective seemed, to him at least, to open up a bit more. So what does that mean now?  "Did you stop trying at the heists too?”

Now Hakuba blushed, turning away with an irritated scowl, sipping the last of his tea before setting the cup back on the plate and reached for a cookie, though he really, really wasn’t hungry anymore. “You have other detectives to play with,” he snapped, then grimaced, hissing a frustrated breath as he set the cookie down, hand running through his hair again.

“Bloody hell.. I mean, HE has other detectives to play with. My priorities have changed. I’ve no interest in arresting the damned thief, but I’ll continue to work with the task force as long as I’m able." 

Things were turning badly very quickly, and Hakuba glanced toward the exit, wondering what he would need to do in order to excuse himself appropriately. He didn’t want to fight, not now. Not when they’d actually had a moment of civility. Not when there had been a small glimmer of hope for something other than disdain between them.

Not when he might have had ONE friend in the whole bloody country to confide in. 

"Perhaps I should go; I’ve kept you from your work long enough, Kuroba-kun. Thank you for your hospitality and advice.” He pushed back from the table and stood, taking a moment to adjust his tie and collar.

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The Interim

smokebombsandmirrors:

Keena cooed at him then flew back to her master. As if that was her answer. Kaito narrowed his eyes. “Can’t go through with it? You? Why not?”

“…Why not?” Hakuba glanced back, expression incredulous as he regarded the other teenager. “I… well, I thought that was obvious, Kuroba-kun.” Another huff and he picked up his tea cup again, sipping from it in irritation. “I’m clearly not going to capture Kaitou Kid. Therefore, I will never succeed. It shouldn’t be surprising." 

Really, after berating him for the accusations, now this? Such a thing! 

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The Interim

smokebombsandmirrors:

“I see … you …really want this? What about …” catching me? He finished that sentence in his head. Frustrated he sighed and raked his fingers through his hair, this time his hair went crazier. He continued to ignore the pressure in his chest. Opening the fridge he pulled out a water bottle and twisted off the cap harshly. A long gulp washed back the bitter feelings in his throat. Keena cooed and Kaito turned his head to see why. Hakuba was stroking her lovingly.

“ …. then go.” He said quietly. “This is your dream Hakuba. You deserve a chance to take it.”

I’m going to miss you. Kaito smiled freely and openly at the detective he had known for a couple of years. 

Hakuba wanted to be upset with the answer. It was what he’d expected; taking any chance to send the one person who knew his secret away. It hurt. But when Hakuba saw the smile, he held his breath. That wasn’t a cruel expression; it was genuine affection, and it caught him off guard. 

He continued to pet Keena, though his movements slowed as his thoughts were derailed and distracted, looking back to the envelopes with a small frown. “It… it isn’t so simple, Kuroba-kun… I still have work here to do, and I don’t…”  He sighed, frustrated, shoulders sagging as he leaned back in the chair again. 

“I don’t want to go home a failure. England sent their champion to take care of Japan’s problem, and I… I can’t go through with my task. But I also don’t see a future for me here… Yet, I… I almost don’t want to leave, either." 

Hanging his head, he huffed, looking to Keena as if she had the answer to his problems. "I used to be so sure of everything; now I don’t know what to do.”

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The Interim

smokebombsandmirrors:

He froze. Even his breathing paused. There were two colleges to England and only one to Japan. Oxford and Cambridge some of the top colleges in the world. They provide so much and asked for so little in return. He would receive some of the best schooling there. He’d also be near family. Hands down Kaito would have chosen either of the two but …

He smiled and shut down the emotions that threatened. “That is a hard choice.”

Don’t go! Don’t go to England! Kaito’s mind kept screaming as he took another sip of tea. His hands though weren’t steadied at all. Mentally cursing himself he set the cup back down with a clack and stood. Keena moved off his shouder to rest near Hakuba and bumped her head against his hand for scritches. 

“Just those three?”

“A few others, as well, including one in the United States, but I’ll be damned before I go there. God, I mostly just wanted to see if I could get in…”  Hakuba laughed, setting his own cup down to give Keena more attention, watching her as he stroked her little head. “But the three I mentioned are all… absolutely amazing. My Mum went to Cambridge, so that’s where she’d like me to go. My father went to Keio. And I…" 

The detective sighed at that, closing his eyes as he mulled the words over in his head, wondering if he should even say them. ”…well, before everything with Kaitou Kid, I’d always dreamed of going to Oxford. Ever since I was a little boy. But wherever I choose… that… that is where I’ll apply for citizenship, begin networking, and setting up my career path for the rest of my life.“ 

He pursed his lips, then looked back up to Kaito, cautiously. "I don’t have very long to reply… so this summer is more or less the interim between me and my future. I’m a bit terrified.”